RACEDAY FOCUS: Richards finds a much-needed star, Chang bursts out of blocks and Bentley makes most of oppotunity

HORSE TO FOLLOW

Bulb General

Zac Purton/Jamie Richards

1st, Race 9 Lantau Peak Handicap Class 3, 1,200m

He had to endure a tough 2024-25 season by his own admission, but Jamie Richards started the new campaign off in stellar fashion with a double headlined by the impressive Bulb General. The four-year-old gelding, who got off the mark at the second time of asking last season, left the impression he might be one to consider for this season’s Classic Series with another dominant performance on the Sha Tin turf yesterday under Zac Purton. “He’s a pretty nice horse,” Richards, who finished 18th in last season’s trainers’ championship, said after the Class 3 success. “We were hoping he was going to be a nice one and it looks like he might be. He made good progress through the summer and he put a bit of weight on.

BEST TRAINING PERFORMANCE 

Michael Chang

You’remyeverything/Derek Leung

1st, Race 1, Grassy Hill Handicap Class 5, 1,200m

Michael Chang Chun-wai says he hopes to continue his early-season success after he enjoyed a perfect start to the 2025/26 campaign courtesy of a race-torace double in the first two races of the calendar.

A pair of competitive Class Fives welcomed in the new racing season and it was Chang who was left celebrating after You’remyeverything and Perfect Peach returned to the winners’ enclosure.

“It’s good for me and hopefully it continues,” Chang said. “Both horses were well handicapped and they had a bit of a rating advantage today in Class Five. It’s perfect ground out there and both horses loved the surface.”

You’remyeverything joined Chang’s stable at the beginning of last season, while Perfect Peach transferred to his yard midway through the 2023/24 campaign. Both horses were formerly trained by Tony Cruz.

RIDE OF THE DAY 

Harry Bentley

Markwin/Cody Mo

1st, Race 8, Tai Mo Shan Handicap Class 2, 1,400m

Derek Leung Ka-chun’s loss was Harry Bentley’s gain at Sha Tin yesterday as the Englishman capitalized on a late call-up to ride Markwin in the Class 2 Tai Mo Shan Handicap over 1,400 meters.

Bentley hopped aboard the Cody Mo Wai-kittrained five-year-old and readily obliged aboard the well-backed galloper after Leung was unable to get down to the 118 pounds required to claim two pounds over the 116 allocated to Markwin.

Bentley’s mount kept on well from towards the rear of the field to fend off the fast-finishing Chiu Chow Spirit. “It was a great ride,” Mo said. “We just let him relax in his trials and I think he’s still improving. It was a nice performance."