Danny Shum Chap-shing kept pace with the trainers’ championship leaders after securing a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night courtesy of Harmony Galaxy, Fantastic Fun and Always My Folks.
Shum’s three-timer saw him move into third position in the championship with 45 winners, three behind joint leaders Mark Newnham and Caspar Fownes.
“Hopefully I can keep going, it’s been a good period. I don’t have that many good Sha Tin horses so it will be hard [to win the title], but I will try my best,” Shum said.
Harmony Galaxy relished the step up to 1,800m, scoring his first win for the season in the Class Four Successful Conversion Handicap with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.
After settling midfield, the Courtier galloper was urged along at the 400m mark and let down superbly to nab Kingly Demeanor by a short head.
“He ran a really good race, but it was a world-class performance by Brenton. He loves this track and distance,” Shum said.
Fantastic Fun carried the top weight of 135lb to victory in the Class Four Winning Try Handicap (1,650m), recording his third Hong Kong win – all of which have been with Hugh Bowman on board.
The son of Justify appreciated the return to Class Four company last start with a close second and went one better this time out.
“He got a strong pace which helped him and he got a good draw, so he was quite impressive, very happy. Class Four is better, Class Three he struggles,” Shum said.
Always My Folks secured his maiden victory with Zac Purton on board in the Class Five Celebrating 50 Years Of The HK Sevens Handicap (1,000m). Shum’s stable transfer has backed up successfully from an unlucky 12th last week, scoring at his fourth start for the trainer.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, David Hayes and Harry Bentley combined for a race-to-race double, which kicked off with World Hero in the first section of the Class Four One City Two Passions Handicap (1,200m).
The son of Written Tycoon overcame barrier 12 to track the speed before leading into the straight and going on to score by a length over Argento Ocean.
“It was a good performance, obviously being drawn wide was a concern beforehand but he’s a horse who does go forward and he’s got early speed, so we were able to get into a good early position and the pace backed off down the back straight,” Bentley said.
“He filled his lungs up and kicked really well around the bend. He’s a horse who’s coming into a good vein of form and he quickened up nicely.”
All Round Winner sealed the double for the duo in the second section of the Class Three Scrum Half Handicap (1,650m).
“He’s been consistent all season and he’s found his niche here, I think. He’s a good Valley horse and I think he’ll win again because he’ll just get into the bottom of Class Three,” Hayes said.
Bowman went on to clinch a brace thanks to a positive ride on the Jamie Richards-trained Storming Dragon in the second section of the Class Four Racing With Rugby Handicap (1,200m).
The Star Turn galloper surged forward from barrier 11 to settle off the leader, Cloud Nine, and went on to run him down by a length at the line.
“I said to Hugh before the race to have an open mind, the horse doesn’t need to be ridden quietly all the time and I think when Northern Fire Ball was scratched at the barrier, it actually helped us get across easier from a wide draw,” Richards said.
The five-year-old defied a foreboding statistic to the relief of Richards.
“I was reading the paper this morning and I saw that there was a two per cent winning strike rate from barrier 11 on the A course and I was furious, but thankfully the horse has done a good job and Hugh gave him a beautiful ride,” Richards said.
Purton also scored a double after guiding home the John Size-trained Beauty Alliance in the Class Three Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,650m).
“He was in a beautiful position and that was the best place for him if he was going to win. It was the perfect ride that was well executed – it’s typical of Zac,” Size said.
