Jimmy Ting to hospital shortly after much-needed winner | HK Racing

It was a bittersweet afternoon for Jimmy Ting Koon-ho on Sunday, with the trainer ending up in hospital and needing stitches shortly after celebrating a much-needed winner at Sha Tin.

After taking just one win in the first 16 meetings of the season, Ting struck in the Class Three Suisse Program Handicap (1,200m) on Sunday thanks to a dominant frontrunner performance from Glory Elite.

But Ting’s celebration was short-lived: the handler cut his left hand on the lead rope when the horse retreated during the winning shots.

It was a significant success for the trainer – who saluted for the first time since Deal Completed’s victory over Sha Tin on September 28 – and a third victory from 10 starts for Glory Elite.

Ting’s improving galloper took another step forward thanks to Derek Leung Ka-chun’s decisive tactics.

After taking the lead from gate three, Glory Elite took his rivals at a reasonable pace before heading home 300 meters out.

The galloper immediately shot clear of the field and remained strong on the line, with Lady’s Choice two and a half lengths back in second and debutant Alsonso another quarter of a length behind in third.

Glory Elite’s win secured a brace for Leung, who was successful on Sugar Ball in the Class Four Canmake Tokyo Handicap (1,200m) earlier on the card.

Double pleasure for Yeung

A jubilant Keith Yeung Ming-lun could barely contain his excitement after notching his first double in almost six months in Sha Tin on Sunday.

With three wins to his name heading into the 17th meeting of the season, Yeung increased his score as he tasted success with enterprising rides aboard Kingly Demeanor and Master Of All.

“It’s a great day,” Yeung said after sealing his brace aboard the Chris So Wai-yin-trained Master Of All.

The 36-year-old opened his account for the afternoon in the Class Five L’Oréal Paris Handicap (1,800 metres), maintaining a strong pillar-to-post gallop aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Kingly Demeanor.

Master Of All took the lead from gate three in the Class Four La Estephe Handicap (1,400m), coming under pressure 400 meters from home and pulling out all the stops to beat Dragon Joy in a tight finish.

The rider thumped his chest in celebration and let out an almighty roar for the crowd on his way to the winners area.

“I love him so much,” Yeung said. “Before we castrated him, his performance was poor and he would never make it in Hong Kong.

“But with all the hard work Chris has put in, he has been proven right and has become the most consistent racehorse.

“Every time he comes out, no matter what barrier he has or what the conditions are, he always gives his best.

“The horse showed a beautiful fighting heart and simply fought back. It’s horses like him that make you really love racing.”

After winning with Kingly Demeanor, experienced trainer Cruz secured his own double thanks to Californiatotality.

The four-year-old took his tally to three wins from twelve starts with victory in the Class Four Grace One Handicap (1,600m).

French pilot targets HKIR

Jerome Reynier could be set for a return to Sha Tin, with the French trainer suggesting Golden Eagle runner-up Lazzat (1,500m) could line up in the Group One Hong Kong Mile next month.

Lazzat is a close second behind fellow raider Lake Forest in the Rosehill feature and is one of two Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) entries for Reynier, but Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) hero Facteur Cheval is unlikely deemed.

“I think (we’re going to Hong Kong), with that run under his belt and now we can get him over,” Reynier, who saddled Royal Julius and Skalleti at HKIR 2020, told Racenet.

“We will certainly consider it and see how he recovers in the coming days.”

While Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) heroine Via Sistina is not coming to Hong Kong, a number of other gallopers are looking at Sha Tin’s features after racing at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Ciaron Maher’s sprinter Recommendation runs in the Listed Century Stakes (1,000m) on Thursday, while Antino takes the Group One Champions Mile next Saturday and Without A Fight competes in the Group One Champions Stakes (2,000m) on the same day.

Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel, who was ruled out of the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m) on Tuesday after failing a scan, is considered a chance to compete in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) .

Another potential Vase contender, Rebel’s Romance, claimed a gutsy victory in the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) at Del Mar, Hong Kong time on Sunday morning.

A dominant winner of May’s Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin, Rebel’s Romance did well to regain his crown and deny fast-finishing Rousham Park by a neck.

Trainer Charlie Appleby put HKIR on the table in July and Jockey Club officials remain hopeful that Sha Tin will be the setting for the six-year-old’s next assignment.

Elsewhere, connections of Group One Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Johannes are also pitching a potential move to the Hong Kong Mile.

Lam recover to go home

Jockey Club student Ivy Lam returns to Hong Kong this week to continue her recovery from injuries sustained in a racing fall in South Australia.

The 23-year-old was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with head injuries after falling from Jacobs Gate when the horse suffered a heart attack mid-race at Gawler racecourse last month.

Trainer Gordon Richards, Lam’s master along with co-trainer Damien Moyle, said Lam was released from hospital last week.

“She now plans to continue her recovery at home in Hong Kong. She leaves next week,” Richards said in a social media post.

“So we wish her all the best in returning to good health. Ivy’s recovery is undoubtedly down to her unique tenacity in a situation she fought through bravely, with dignity and humour.”

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