https://www.scmp.com/rss/523345/feed The latest news and top stories on Britney Wong Po-ni, the first female apprentice to ride full-time in Hong Kong in seven years, having been granted a licence for the 2024/2025 racing season. Born in 1999, Wong trained in Australia, where she achieved 50 wins from over 600 races, and also had a brief stint in New Zealand. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Olivia O'Sullivan Olivia O'Sullivan Apprentice jockey Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu wrote a new page in the history books by soaring to her first Hong Kong victory on just her second ride at Sha Tin’s all-weather meeting on Wednesday night. The 25-year-old handled her first race meeting in Hong Kong like an ultimate professional, guiding Pi Legend to a maiden local victory with a beautifully-rated ride in section two of the Class Four Ma Tau Wai Handicap (1,200m) for trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong. “I’m very excited. I can’t believe that at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3348714/nichola-yuen-lights-sha-tin-debut-victory-her-second-ever-ride-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3348714/nichola-yuen-lights-sha-tin-debut-victory-her-second-ever-ride-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:21:48 +0000 Jay Rooney Jay Rooney Prominent Australian jockey Ethan Brown and home-grown apprentice Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu will join Hong Kong’s elite riding ranks for the end of the season after they were granted short-term licences by the Jockey Club. One of the most sought-after riders in Australia at the moment, 26-year-old Brown will ride in races in the city from April 26 to the season finale at Happy Valley on July 15. Brown has racked up more than 600 wins including 10 at Group One level, forming a strong association with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3342647/top-australian-jockey-ethan-brown-and-nichola-yuen-set-join-elite-hong-kong-riding-ranks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3342647/top-australian-jockey-ethan-brown-and-nichola-yuen-set-join-elite-hong-kong-riding-ranks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:16:22 +0000 Owen Goulding,Jay Rooney Owen Goulding,Jay Rooney The status quo was maintained in the race to become the local rider at next month’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship after Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and Jerry Chau Chun-lok both struck at Sha Tin on Sunday. Heading into the meeting, Ho was one winner ahead of Chau but he wasted no time in extending the advantage when Mabubu made all the running on debut to win the Class Four BOC Cross-Border Services Handicap (1,200m). Chau managed to wrestle the lead back down to one when the impressive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3333860/vincent-ho-and-jerry-chau-continue-tight-battle-international-jockeys-championship-berth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3333860/vincent-ho-and-jerry-chau-continue-tight-battle-international-jockeys-championship-berth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:16:03 +0000 Jay Rooney Jay Rooney Saturday’s 10-race card at Sha Tin is headlined by a competitive Class Two Lukfook Jewellery Cup (1,200m), while the battle between champion jockeys Zac Purton and James McDonald is sure to be another highlight. Jay Rooney is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Four Lukfook Jewellery Hexicon Handicap (1,200m) Georgian Sigma comes off an impressive second on debut, in which he was carried out just before the turn by eventual winner Ever Luck and fired... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3332793/who-wins-sha-tin-beauty-can-bolt-classic-series-contention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3332793/who-wins-sha-tin-beauty-can-bolt-classic-series-contention?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:31:32 +0000 Jay Rooney,Owen Goulding Jay Rooney,Owen Goulding David Eustace will look at testing Light Years Charm in Group company again after the progressive galloper dug deep to claim a fighting win in Sunday’s Class Two Santa Monica Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin. Dropping in grade after an unlucky seventh behind My Wish in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m), Light Years Charm relished a frenetic speed set by Beauty Crescent and Drombeg Banner to record his fifth win from 11 local starts. Zac Purton settled the $3.75 favourite in midfield and he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3332108/light-years-charm-bound-return-group-features-after-tough-class-two-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3332108/light-years-charm-bound-return-group-features-after-tough-class-two-success?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 11:52:34 +0000 Jay Rooney Jay Rooney Racing returns to the Sha Tin turf on Sunday for the first time in two weeks, with the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) the highlight of the 10-race card. Jay Rooney is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1,600m) Perfect Peach followed a good win with a sound second to Ninja Derby last start and looks the one to beat here. Race 2 – Class Four Grace One Handicap (1,000m) Ka Ying Warrior has trialled very nicely for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3332031/who-wins-sha-tin-strathpeffer-super-chance-salute-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3332031/who-wins-sha-tin-strathpeffer-super-chance-salute-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 07:14:35 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Happy Valley hosts its only day meeting of the campaign on Sunday, with the Class Two Guangzhou Handicap (1,200m) the highlight of the meeting. There are 10 races on the card and Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Dongguan Handicap (1,200m) Speedy Smartie has more weight on his back but he is in rude health and will be able to comfortably make the lead from stall seven under Karis Teetan. Race 2 – Class Four Foshan Handicap... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3331171/who-wins-happy-valley-masterofmyuniverse-can-take-world-beating-john-size?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3331171/who-wins-happy-valley-masterofmyuniverse-can-take-world-beating-john-size?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 08:06:13 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars Britney Wong Po-ni’s road to Happy Valley has been longer than most apprentice jockeys in recent times, but the 26-year-old is confident she now has the street smarts needed to negotiate the tight-turning city circuit. Initially hesitant to tackle the testing track where staying cool and calculated in heavy traffic is a must – jockeys must be given approval to ride at the course by Jockey Club management – Wong’s self-belief has built gradually through 249 rides and 23 winners at Sha Tin. Buoyed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3331150/excited-britney-wong-confident-she-has-tools-handle-happy-valley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3331150/excited-britney-wong-confident-she-has-tools-handle-happy-valley?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 03:39:16 +0000 Jay Rooney Jay Rooney Brazilian Group One winner Sagacious Life sensationally surged into Classic Series calculations with an upset win on his Hong Kong debut in Sunday’s Class Two Panasonic Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Starting a $33.65 chance against strong opposition, the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained import capitalised on a light weight of 108lb after Britney Wong Po-ni’s claim to hand the apprentice her biggest victory in the city. Wong settled Sagacious Life midfield on the fence and he appeared to be keeping on only... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3330375/brazilian-group-one-winner-sagacious-life-upstages-hot-field-sensational-hong-kong-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3330375/brazilian-group-one-winner-sagacious-life-upstages-hot-field-sensational-hong-kong-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 10:27:15 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Zac Purton will be aiming to tick off another milestone on his way towards a landmark 2,000 Hong Kong winners when he pairs up with Horsepower in the Class Two Longines Cup (1,000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old has had little time to slow down since winning the Group One The Everest (1,200m) on Ka Ying Rising at Randwick last Saturday, as he returned to Sha Tin the next day to boot home a double and leave himself one win shy of 1,900 in Hong Kong. Things do not slow down... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3329759/zac-purton-hoping-he-has-horsepower-he-gears-another-milestone-happy-valley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3329759/zac-purton-hoping-he-has-horsepower-he-gears-another-milestone-happy-valley?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:12:46 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding We are back at Sha Tin again on Sunday, with a good mix of competitive races leading up to the feature Class Two Shing Mun Handicap (1,200m). Owen Goulding is back in the hot seat with an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Chai Wan Kok Handicap (1,200m) Sky Song is yet to win at Sha Tin, but he ran well at the track last time out and now drops into a grade that he is unbeaten in. Race 2 – Class Four Kwok Shui Handicap (1,200m) – first section Circuit Victory has been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3328637/who-wins-sha-tin-fight-time-can-be-knockout-pick-punters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3328637/who-wins-sha-tin-fight-time-can-be-knockout-pick-punters?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:50:42 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars Sha Tin hosts another feature day this public holiday Wednesday, with the Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) the highlight of the season’s seventh meeting. There are 10 races on the card and Sam Agars is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Shenyang Handicap (1,400m) Tsuen Wan Glory has been working well since a solid late-August trial and he looks the one to beat if apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni can find the front from gate 12. Race 2 – Class... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3327451/who-wins-sha-tin-wunderbar-one-beat-feature-dash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3327451/who-wins-sha-tin-wunderbar-one-beat-feature-dash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:27:03 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars They’ve had to settle for a dominant jockeys’ premiership winner for the past few seasons – and likely will in 2025-26 as well – but Hong Kong racing fans could be in for a midseason stoush for the ages if the stars align in the next couple of months. With The Standard reporting on Monday that Joao Moreira could be set for a return to Hong Kong as Caspar Fownes’ stable jockey and James McDonald believed to be one of a string of riders confirmed for winter stints in Hong Kong, eight-time champion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3325615/will-hong-kong-racing-fans-be-treated-zac-purton-v-joao-moreira-v-james-mcdonald?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3325615/will-hong-kong-racing-fans-be-treated-zac-purton-v-joao-moreira-v-james-mcdonald?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:23:50 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars Apprentice jockey Britney Wong Po-ni waved goodbye to her 10lb claim in style at Sha Tin on Sunday, banging in a double with victories aboard Fight Time and Packing Bole. After reaching 20 Hong Kong victories early in her second season, Wong’s claim will be reduced to 7lb and she confirmed she is growing in confidence. “I think [my progress] has been good. It’s only two meetings [into the new season], but I think performance-wise I’m really satisfied with my progress,” she said. “Last season I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3325496/britney-wong-waves-goodbye-10lb-claim-stylish-sha-tin-double?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3325496/britney-wong-waves-goodbye-10lb-claim-stylish-sha-tin-double?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 11:06:12 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Ka Ying Rising continued his flawless preparation towards his return in next Sunday’s Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) with another dazzling trial at Sha Tin on Saturday. Last season’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year clocked a time of 56.45 up the 1,000m straight under Zac Purton, with the champion jockey never extending the five-year-old to win by two lengths. It was another step towards his ultimate goal of the A$20 million The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick on October 18, and trainer... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3323771/ka-ying-rising-pleasure-watch-he-blazes-through-another-sha-tin-barrier-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3323771/ka-ying-rising-pleasure-watch-he-blazes-through-another-sha-tin-barrier-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding It is now or never for Derek Leung Ka-chun as he looks to Beauty Joy to be the catalyst to spark his fading Tony Cruz Award hopes back to life at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 36-year-old is in a three-way shoot-out for the local riders’ premiership, with Matthew Poon Ming-fai leading the way on 36 and Matthew Chadwick sitting second on 34. Leung has two meetings to claw back three winners to draw level with Poon, with his Sunday book of eight rides looking the strongest of the trio. He rides Beauty... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3317978/title-races-go-down-wire-derek-leung-looks-strike-tony-cruz-award-blow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3317978/title-races-go-down-wire-derek-leung-looks-strike-tony-cruz-award-blow?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 07:30:28 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars Hong Kong racing looks set to have it’s lowest-rated Champion Griffin in 14 years after the Jockey Club confirmed the initial nominations on Wednesday. Not since the 75-rated Bear Hero took the gong at the end of the 2010-11 season has a horse still in Class Three won Champion Griffin, but that is likely to change this season. Sky Jewellery and Crossborderpegasus are the nominated gallopers and, with the John Size-trained pair unlikely to race again this season, it looks as though either the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3316887/hong-kong-could-have-class-three-champion-griffin-first-time-14-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3316887/hong-kong-could-have-class-three-champion-griffin-first-time-14-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 01:45:38 +0000