Britney Wong Po-ni will bid to extend her lead in the unofficial all-weather premiership at Sha Tin on Wednesday night, with four last-start winners and class dropper Sing Dragon among the apprentice’s eight rides at the dirt meeting.
In her first Hong Kong season, Wong has booted home seven winners from 40 rides on the dirt at an impressive strike rate of 17.5 per cent.
The 25-year-old celebrated her first double in the city on March 9 when she booted home Natural High for her boss, David Hall, and the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Self Improvement in the two all-weather races on the mixed card.
“As a 10-pound claimer, I am very happy with the results that I have so far and all of the opportunities I have been given – I really appreciate it,” said Wong, who has also booted home five winners on the Sha Tin turf this term.
Britney Wong with another winner on the dirt! Manfred Man's Self Improvement bravely defies Gummy Gummy at Sha Tin... 💪#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/xUQexAIrM1
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 9, 2025
Wong looks well placed to strike again on Wednesday night with Man’s Patch Of Watch, the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Shanghai Style, Natural High and the David Hayes-trained Ariel chasing consecutive victories.
Ariel will line up in one of two Class Threes on the nine-race card, the Flamingo Handicap (1,650m), fresh from his second dirt victory of the season on March 2.
“He goes for the same speed for a long period of time, so again, we will try to jump and be positive and see where we land,” Wong said.
“Also, it’s not necessary that he needs to lead. He can be lovely sitting off the leader or anywhere close to the lead. He’s a pretty genuine horse to ride.”
Britney Wong guides Sing Dragon (outside) to victory in a recent dirt trial.
Wong’s claim will also come in handy when she rides Mark Newnham’s dirt specialist Sing Dragon for the first time in the Class Three Egret Handicap (1,200m).
A four-time winner from six starts on the surface, the Written Tycoon gelding comes off a brave third to Capital Delight when trapped extremely wide without cover throughout.
He boasts an outstanding record of three wins from four starts in Class Three dirt races and Wong’s claim reduces his weight from 135 pounds to 125.
With even luck from barrier 11, Sing Dragon should figure prominently in a competitive race that also includes dirt winners Self Improvement, Gummy Gummy, Mask Rider, Must Go, Dragon Air Force and G Liner.
Voyage Bubble looks the goods! 😍
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 24, 2025
Ricky Yiu's four-time Group 1 winner let rip in a trial at Conghua this morning ahead of #FWDChampionsDay next month... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/BWunDgul4L
Meanwhile, four-time Group One winner Voyage Bubble warmed up for next month’s Group One Champions Mile with an effortless trial win by four lengths at Conghua on Monday.
Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai confirmed his stable star will progress to the Champions Mile instead of the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) on April 27, while he remains optimistic about continuing the six-year-old’s bid for a historic Triple Crown success.
Voyage Bubble won the first two legs, the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m). The final leg is the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) in May.