https://www.scmp.com/rss/524331/feed Keagan de Melo: A highly accomplished professional jockey, he is a product of the South African Jockey Academy. Boasting over 1,200 career wins, including nearly 50 at black type level, he was crowned South Africa Champion Jockey in 2022/23. His notable victories include the South African Derby, Golden Horse Sprint, and Premier’s Champions Challenge. Currently based in Hong Kong, he recently secured his first Group success there. De Melo has forged strong partnerships with various trainers and... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Hong Lok Golf could be heading for Group One targets after getting back on track with a game performance to win the Class Two 1,600m Turf Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday. Chris So Wai-yin’s galloper won six of his seven starts in a breakout first campaign, but had kicked off this season with a pair of defeats, most recently by two and a half lengths in disappointing fashion. Sent off the $4.6 joint favourite under Harry Bentley, there were some anxious moments for his backers when he turned into... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3334674/group-one-tilt-cards-hong-lok-golf-gets-back-track-style-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3334674/group-one-tilt-cards-hong-lok-golf-gets-back-track-style-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:45:37 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding A grateful Keagan De Melo will wave goodbye to Hong Kong racing on Sunday and is hoping to end his stint on a high when he rides Shanwah and Baby Crystal at Sha Tin. The South African will have his final rides in the city at the behind-closed-doors fixture and he is hoping to add to his tally of 33 winners gained over the last two seasons. Although it has been a tough end to his stint, with the 32-year-old yet to get off the mark this campaign, he looks back fondly on a year that saw him secure... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3334603/grateful-keagan-de-melo-departs-hong-kong-french-star-maxime-guyon-gets-and-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3334603/grateful-keagan-de-melo-departs-hong-kong-french-star-maxime-guyon-gets-and-running?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 03:55:28 +0000 Jay Rooney Jay Rooney It’s been a busy second month of the season in Hong Kong with champion rider Zac Purton soaring clear in the jockeys’ title, Mark Newnham extending his great start to the campaign, a swag of impressive wins from some exciting gallopers and Ka Ying Rising claiming The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had an October to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who’s hot? Purton proved why he is a class above his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3331043/hong-kong-racing-postscript-whos-hot-whos-not-and-best-october?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3331043/hong-kong-racing-postscript-whos-hot-whos-not-and-best-october?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 07:04:44 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding It would not be hard to argue that the current crop of Hong Kong jockeys is one of the strongest in recent memory – so why was a return to the city for Joao Moreira talked about as if it were a certainty? There is no debating that the “Magic Man” is one of the best jockeys to ever grace Hong Kong, racking up 1,235 wins and being champion jockey on four occasions. His regular tussles with Zac Purton were something to savour and he is internationally acclaimed - his talent is certainly not up for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3328451/joao-moreiras-knock-back-shows-brutal-competitiveness-hong-kong-weighing-room?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3328451/joao-moreiras-knock-back-shows-brutal-competitiveness-hong-kong-weighing-room?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:18:02 +0000 Jay Rooney Jay Rooney Buoyed by positive responses from Hong Kong owners, Brett Crawford is eyeing a dream start to his new venture when the prominent South African trainer starts Speedy Smartie at Sunday’s season opener at Sha Tin. Crawford, who has won 38 Group Ones and almost 1,500 races throughout his career, is the only addition to the Hong Kong training ranks for the 2025-26 season. Speedy Smartie – one of 25 gallopers on Crawford’s books – will be the handler’s only runner on Sunday and the former Benno Yung... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3323885/brett-crawford-bids-perfect-start-hong-kong-career-sha-tin-season-opener?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3323885/brett-crawford-bids-perfect-start-hong-kong-career-sha-tin-season-opener?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:38:36 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Calandagan justified favourtism in devastating fashion to give Francis-Henri Graffard back-to-back wins in the Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The Gleneagles gelding was beaten by Jan Brueghel in the Group One Coronation Cup (2,400m) at Epsom in June but reversed the form in no uncertain terms after what looked to be a tactical mishap from Ballydoyle. From an outsiders view, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous looked to be a pacemaker for his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319825/calandagan-wins-king-george-ascot-while-godolphin-snares-german-group-one-honours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319825/calandagan-wins-king-george-ascot-while-godolphin-snares-german-group-one-honours?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:46:32 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Dave The King will look for his crowning glory when he goes for back-to-back wins in the Group One HKJC Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville on Sunday. The Mike and Mathew De Kock-trained star is unbeaten in two starts this campaign, latterly winning the Group One Gold Challenge (1,600m) at Greyville in June. The four-year-old was a comfortable winner of this race 12 months ago, cruising clear on his way to becoming South African Horse of the Year. The father and son combination have their runner... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319687/dave-king-bids-champions-cup-repeat-keagen-de-melo-opposition-greyville?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319687/dave-king-bids-champions-cup-repeat-keagen-de-melo-opposition-greyville?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 08:03:38 +0000