Champions Day threw up a big surprise as well as two expected results in the big features, while normal service resumed for the King of Hong Kong’s jockey ranks in April.
The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride.
Who’s hot?
Zac Purton’s comeback from injury hit top gear in April, with the seven-time champion Hong Kong jockey racking up 15 winners at a strong strike rate of 21.4 per cent.
His best monthly return this term was 19 in October, but Purton looks set for a big finish to what has already been a phenomenal campaign.
Andrea Atzeni’s rise continued with another successful month, with the Sardinian jockey booting home 10 winners to hold a clear buffer in third in the championship standings.
Trainer John Size (second from left) and jockey Andrea Atzeni were two of the star performers of April.
From a trainer’s perspective, John Size was the most successful handler for another month as he continues his charge towards a record-extending 13th championship.
The master trainer registered eight winners to share the April honours with Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, who surged from seventh to third in the championship standings.
Reigning title winner Francis Lui Kin-wai and Caspar Fownes also had successful months with seven winners apiece.
Who’s not?
He’s had a terrific season to date, but Matthew Poon Ming-fai suffered a halt in momentum with a winless April.
Matthew Poon is in the midst of a winning drought since booting home Straight Arron.
“The Poon Train” will carry a winless streak of 69 rides into May – a drought he will no doubt be desperate to snap.
Apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni also failed to register a victory in April, though she only had 19 rides while serving multiple suspensions.
After leading the charge for the trainers’ championship earlier this season, Pierre Ng Pang-chi has experienced a tougher time of late and currently sits eighth in the title standings after another lacklustre month.
Last season’s championship runner-up managed just one winner and carries a winless streak of 46 runners into May.
Pierre Ng has slipped to eighth in the trainers’ championship.
Three other handlers also had just one victory in March – Douglas Whyte, who has a current winning drought of 44 runners, Michael Chang Chun-wai and Benno Yung Tin-pang.
Win of the month
It’s no easy feat beating Voyage Bubble this season, but Red Lion managed to do just that when becoming the longest-priced winner in Group One Champions Mile history last Sunday.
Sent off an 89-1 chance, John Size’s unheralded galloper caused an almighty upset when he made all under Hugh Bowman to upstage Voyage Bubble by a short head.
Bowman controlled the race from the front and Red Lion, who ran second to Beauty Eternal in the same race last year, shrugged off Hong Kong’s star miler to land a career-best success.
RED LION ROARS! 🦁
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025
It's an 89/1 shocker in the FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin for @HugeBowman and John Size as Red Lion lands his first Group 1 over Voyage Bubble... #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/BoYbwGqmmt
It was a huge performance from a horse whose previous best run this season was a three-length third in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m).
Ride of the month
Visiting jockey Damian Lane produced a perfect ride on Tastiera to lift the Japanese stayer to victory in last Sunday’s Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).
Lane sent Tastiera forward from gate 10 in the early stages to eventually land in the perfect spot one-out and one-back in fourth.
He cruised up to Cap Ferrat early in the straight to take control and drew clear, comfortably accounting for fellow Japanese runner Prognosis.
Tastiera takes out the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin with @LaneDamian for trainer Noriyuki Hori! 🏆#タスティエーラ 🎌 | #競馬 | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/rtJnH9rRpq
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025
There were plenty of other rides worth honourable mentions from March – Dylan Mo Hin-tung’s aboard Winning Wing, Bowman’s weaving ride on Casa Rochester at Happy Valley and Purton’s pearler from gate 10 on Chill Kaka on the dirt.