By Leo Schlink
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Brenton Avdulla continued a blossoming season by dominating at Sha Tin on Sunday, crowning a stellar display with victory in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on the David Hayes-trained Rubylot (Rubick) before piloting emerging Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hopeful Enthralled (American Pharoah) to an important triumph.
Avdulla, 34, moved into third place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 29 wins behind injured Zac Purton (84) and Hugh Bowman (42) after taking riding honours with three successive wins after also striking with Young Champion (Zoustar) in the Class 2 Tai Hing Handicap (1400m) for John Size.
“Nice day. I had four rides, I thought three of them were good, competitive rides and they’re the three that have lobbed. They all had nice runs in transit, got the job done,” Avdulla said.
“Hayesey’ [David Hayes] had the horse [Rubylot] spot on. He had a nice run through and I was confident at the 250 [metres] he was going to get the job done. I’ve got no doubt if he drew a gate in the [Hong Kong Classic Mile] he would have gone very close [to winning].
“I was just back in no man’s land and he still ran on well, so I was confident enough to stick with him to come to 1800 metres. I thought the draw [barrier eight] was a little bit tricky again [today] and, ideally, I would have been a bit closer but it just didn’t look any good after 50 [metres], so I just rode him quiet and my only decision was whether I go inside Mickley or around him.
“I just felt I was going good enough to get Mickley out of the way when I cornered and to his credit the horse found the line really well.”
Crowning a glorious eight days, David Hayes immediately set sights on the Hong Kong Derby with Rubylot on March 23 when the Australian horseman will attempt to win the Classic for a second time.
Leading the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 35 wins, Hayes last Sunday saddled Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (Gr 1, 1400m) victor Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) before claiming the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge at Happy Valley on Wednesday with Soleil Fighter (Sea The Moon) and then striking at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon with Rubylot.
Rubylot steamed from the tail of the field at the 400 metres to overhaul Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner My Wish (Flying Artie) and score by three-quarters of length in 1m 46.29s with fast-finishing Johannes Brahms (Siyouni) half-a-length further back in third.
In clinching the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Rubylot improved his record to six wins and eight placings from 18 starts for his owners, the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate, while taking his earnings to HK$15.5 million (approx. AU$3.21 million).
Settling second-last, Rubylot tracked Mickley (Soldier’s Call) into the straight before angling into the clear and accelerating powerfully with a race-best 22.30s final 400-metre sectional to quickly settle the contest and atone for a luckless sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile.
A dual Hong Kong champion trainer, Hayes last won the Hong Kong Derby in 2003 with Elegant Fashion (Danewin), who was the first filly to triumph in Hong Kong’s most coveted race since Corvette (Biarritz) in 1976.
“It would be very nice [to win another Hong Kong Derby Derby]. It’s been a long time. It’s one of the races everyone in Hong Kong wants to win,” Hayes said.
“To my eye, he [Rubylot] was the strongest late and that’s a good sign stepping up to the 2000 metres. Being a Rubick you were always concerned, but he’s out of a Dubawi mare and stoutly-bred on the dam side.
“You always look at this race [Hong Kong Classic Cup] to find the closers and that’s a good pointer to the Derby. I don’t think anyone ran home faster than him today. It was a brilliant sectional.”
A two-time winner in England for Sir Michael Stoute, the John Size-trained Enthralled showcased his staying potential with a last-to-first win in the Class 3 Yan Tin Handicap (2000m) to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million (approx. AU$310,910) and impressing Avdulla.
“I actually said to John [Size] after I first rode him that if you had another two months up your sleeve, he’d be one of the live chances in the Derby,” Avdulla said.
“So, he’s had to get him there quickly. It’s not often you see John give them only a couple of trials and then run them in a mile.
“I think he’s a good quality horse and if he makes his way into the Derby field, he’ll be a live hope for sure.”
Size joined Hayes and Ricky Yiu in scoring a double with Young Champion’s impressive display before James McDonald completed a brace with victory on Dennis Yip’s Fast Network (Wrote) in the Class 3 Yau Oi Handicap (1200m).
McDonald opened his account on Lucky Fionn (Per Incanto) in the Class 4 Yan Oi Tong Cup Handicap (1400m) for Yiu, who also combined successfully with James Orman and The Concentration (Hellbent) in the Class 5 Lung Yat Handicap (1200m).
Orman was elated after notching his first Sha Tin victory – four days after the Queenslander posted his first win at Happy Valley on the Yiu-trained Charming Babe (Pride Of Dubai) on Wednesday.
“It’s pretty surreal, I’m still pinching myself from Wednesday to be honest with you,” Orman said after notching his second win from only six rides.
“To be honest, I was pretty confident with this horse today because I know he’s only won one from 17 but he was one of the first horses I trialled when I got here and he trialled up really good against horses higher in the ratings.
“I galloped him on Thursday and I thought he would be really hard to beat. I was always going to get a good run from that alley [barrier two] and I got a good run through today.”
Justifying (Justify) made a striking debut for Caspar Fownes when the three-year-old surged to a three and three-quarter length win in the Class 4 Fu Tai Handicap (1000m) under Luke Ferraris.
“He’s a very fast horse and he’s got a long way to go because he’s still quite mature. I gave him two trials and normally I’d give them a few more but he looked to be ready to come to the races. He’s a pretty straightforward horse, he showed a lot of speed and I think he’s quite exciting,” Fownes said of the Justify (Scat Daddy) gelding.
Britney Wong slotted her tenth win of the season with the David Hayes-trained Ariel’s (Exceed And Excel) triumph in the Class 3 On Ting Handicap (1650m, dirt), before Blake Shinn and Benno Yung combined with Ballistic Win (Ace High) to clinch the Class 4 Po Tin Handicap (1200m).
Ellis Wong piloted Danny Shum’s Shanghai Style (Belardo) to victory in the Class 4 Sam Shing Handicap (1650m, dirt).
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
