Andrea Atzeni’s massive month saw him surpass Zac Purton’s winning haul in March, while two trainers stood out from the rest of their peers and Invincible Ibis stormed to victory in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).

The SCMP 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?

Atzeni fired in 14 winners from 73 rides at a strong strike rate of just over 19 per cent, with the Sardinian notching his best haul in Hong Kong twice in March.

He bagged a four-timer at Sha Tin on March 8, just hours before his fiancée Emma Snape gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Thomas, before matching that haul at Happy Valley on March 18.

The next best tally for the month was champion jockey Purton’s 12. Hugh Bowman bagged nine, including his third Derby success courtesy of Invincible Ibis, while Jerry Chau Chun-lok and James Orman also had productive months with eight wins apiece.

There were two clear stand-outs from the training ranks in March, with Mark Newnham and Francis Lui Kin-wai both racking up 10 victories.

Newnham ended a quiet period for his stable in style, notching a career-best five-timer at Happy Valley on March 18 before claiming his first Hong Kong Derby success. His Sha Tin treble on Sunday catapulted him back into the championship lead.

Lui continued his outstanding 2026, notching winners at six of the nine meetings of the month to now sit just five wins behind Newnham in the championship standings. Tony Cruz was the next best handler with eight wins in March.

Who’s not?

Matthew Chadwick’s frustrating drought extended into March, with the 35-year-old’s streak of winless rides now at 129 – just three short of David Probert’s from this season.

Ellis Wong Chi-wang and Dylan Mo Hin-tung were also winless in March, but they only had 21 and 15 rides respectively.

From a trainer’s perspective, Me Tsui Yu-sak and Michael Chang Chun-wai failed to visit the winners’ enclosure in March, while Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was set to join them before Rising Force struck at Sha Tin on Sunday. Dennis Yip Chor-hong and Jimmy Ting Koon-ho joined Yiu on one win for the month.

Win of the month

Winning Ovation made a spectacular return 308 days between runs after a tendon injury to score in dominant fashion at Sha Tin.

Resuming with just two lead-up trials, the Tony Cruz-trained import picked up where he left off last term when striking on his second local start in May.

He did a bit of work early to cross from gate six and take up the lead but kept on strongly to beat the consistent Super Express by a length and a quarter. He proved that win was no fluke when handling the rise to Class Two on his following start to narrowly beat Six Pack.

Invincible Ibis’ fast-finishing Derby triumph and Romantic Warrior’s four-length blitz in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) were other highlights in March.

Ride of the month

Chau made winning from wide barriers an artform in March, but it was his sensational ride on Without Compare at the Valley that stood out the most.

On his first start at the city circuit, the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained import was snagged back to second last from barrier 12 and with his mount racing keenly, Chau opted to take off out wide from the 1,000m.

He shot Without Compare to the lead just inside the 800m and the former Australian galloper kept on gamely to fight off Keefy to score by a neck.

Chau’s winning ride on Chill Partners at Sha Tin – lobbing in the box seat from gate 11 en route to victory – was close behind his display on Without Compare, while Purton’s masterclass on Endeared from last also deserves high praise.