Young Amusing City Best in Cheung Lin Shan Plate

Trainer John Moore secured a three-timer and was on the mark early doors in the season’s first Griffin race, the Cheung Lin Shan Plate. The 1000m contest opened the afternoon’s action and it was Amusing City (120lb), the only two-year-old in the six-runner field, who edged the verdict.

The Sebring gelding, ridden by Sam Clipperton and sporting blinkers on debut, held off the Richard Gibson-trained Lucky Master (129lb) by a short-head in a time of 57.17s.

“That’s a good result, he was just the fittest of the bunch looking at them walking around the paddock, and he was getting the pull in the weights – he’s never missed a day’s work,” Moore said.

“He’s one for next season, definitely – he’d be a miler,” he continued. “He’s immature, of course, and you could see he just tried to throw the towel in just past mid-race; he was reluctant, his tongue’s all over; he had the blinkers on because he can be a little bit funny in the mornings but he’s beaten the three-year-olds, so there is a future for him.”

Moore’s Sunny Way wrapped up proceedings with victory in the last, the Class 3 Siu Ma Shan Handicap (1400m), under Zac Purton. The jockey landed a brace after scoring aboard Lucky Guy for trainer Dennis Yip in race seven, the Class 3 Mount Collinson Handicap (1200m).

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Matthew Poon rode his first Hong Kong double today. The 10lb claimer was back in action for the first time since sustaining an injury at his local debut three weeks ago. After scoring an easy victory on the David Ferraris-trained London City in race four, the Class 4 Ma Kong Shan Handicap (1200m), the apprentice was on the mark in the next, the Class 4 Mount Butler Handicap (1400m). The latter was for his boss, David Hall, atop Happy And Healthy.

“It’s great for Matthew, he had a good day on his first day with a winner, albeit cut short, and to bounce straight back and have a couple of winners already, it’s very exciting for him,” Hall said.

“A 10lb claim is important, as we’ve seen today. The example of his two wins, one from up the front on a horse that isn't highly-rated, and one from back in the field, which was most important and significant for everybody, I think, to see him ride in that style as well.”

While Poon was scooting clear in race four, three jockeys, Karis Teetan, Vincent Ho and Nash Rawiller, fell from their mounts in an incident early in the home straight. Rawiller was taken to hospital with a dislocated right shoulder and a hairline fracture to his right ankle, while Ho was stood down for precautionary observation and Teetan was cleared to continue.

Teetan showed no ill effects from his spill as he drove the Michael Chang-trained Razor Quest to victory in race nine, the Class 3 Pottinger Peak Handicap (1600m).

Hong Kong International Sale graduate Gorgeous Again landed a hat-trick with a comfortable success in race three, the Class 4 High West Handicap (1800m), under Derek Leung. Danny Shum’s charge is now three from 12. Leung snared a double when triumphant in tandem with the Benno Yung-trained Thor The Greatest in race six, the Class 3 Hong Kong Lions Cup Handicap (1200m).

Earlier, Neil Callan ended a five-meeting winless run. The Irishman notched his 32nd success of the campaign aboard top-weight Amazing Always (133lb) in race two, the Class 5 D’Aguilar Peak Handicap (1400m), to give Ferraris the first leg of a double.

Hong Kong racing resumes on Thursday, 20 April at Happy Valley with the first race at 7.15pm.

Source: Hong Kong Jockey Club (David Morgan)