Chad Schofield starred with a treble on a bright afternoon (Sunday, 1 March) at Sha Tin and highlighted his haul with a masterful ride aboard Circuit Three in section two of the Class 3 Lai King Handicap (1400m).

The rider had the Savabeel gelding in midfield on the fence upon turning for home but in the home straight was forced to watch as gaps opened and closed; Schofield remained cool and collected though and was rewarded when a split between Snap Fit (128lb) and Hardly Swears (125lb) presented at the 250m point.

“I was always confident of getting a run somewhere – I had a few options so I took one eventually and then he was able to show his customary finish,” Schofield said.

“It was a good win – he was a short-priced favourite but we knew we were going to sit midfield on the fence somewhere and that we’d need a bit of luck but when we got it, especially with top weight, he really managed to hit the line strongly.”

The Hong Kong International Sale graduate notched up a hat-trick of wins with that score, taking his earnings to HK$3,387,530. The New Zealand-bred now has four wins from his last five starts and before today has risen 23 rating points to 75 since his opening mark of 52.

Schofield followed that win with an all-the-way score on Eternal Harvest in the Class 4 Shek Lei Handicap (1200m), the first of a double for trainer Ricky Yiu after Allied Agility grabbed the Class 3 Kwai Fong Handicap (1000m).

The 26-year-old’s three-timer began with Amazing Chocolate’s comfortable triumph in the Shek Wai Kok Handicap (1400m). The Sepoy gelding broke evenly to settle midfield before burrowing between runners to hit the front at the 350m mark, eventually cruising to an easy four and three quarter-length score.

“The blinkers went on, we rode him for speed today and those two combined switched him right on – he was way too good,” Schofield said.

The Australian-bred five-year-old had his second start for trainer Tony Millard who missed the win as he was away in Melbourne, Australia for the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

“I rode him once or twice previously but I hadn’t ridden him since he’d been at his new stable, he did very well today” Schofield said.

“Tony (Millard) has got an amazing record with stable transfers and it’s great to get another win for him,” said Schofield who has three wins this term for the handler.

Millard’s record with stable transfers is headlined by the great Ambitious Dragon who prior to racing for the handler was a maiden before securing the 2011 BMW Hong Kong Derby under the South African’s care.

His exploits of late include Elusive State, who from 24 starts was a three-time winner, before transferring to Millard to add a further five wins from only 10 runs, stamping his claims as Hong Kong’s best dirt horse while a trip to Dubai for the G2 Godolphin Mile is also a possibility.

Badel bids farewell

Alexis Badel bid farewell – for the time being – to Hong Kong this afternoon a winner as Super Wealthy fought gamely to bring up a hat-trick of wins in the Class 2 Cheung Shan Handicap (1400m).

“He’s a very good horse, he’s given me a very nice feeling since the first time I rode him on debut and since then he has never stopped improving – he’ll be one of the top horses to follow because he’s very talented,” Badel said.

Badel, whose short-term contract came to a close today, has nailed 26 wins since his licence commenced in November, three of which have come aboard Super Wealthy and nine in tandem with that horse’s trainer Douglas Whyte.

“I was very blessed to be in Hong Kong this winter and I want to thank everyone who trusted me – the owners and trainers for their support – I have tried my best and I will try to improve,” Badel said.

“It’s pretty satisfying, the competition is tough here and you don’t have to make too many mistakes to lose chances but it’s been positive and I really hope that I’ll be able to come back to Hong Kong.”

The Whyte trainee broke cleanly to settle in the first half of the field, before charging up the rail when the gap presented to get the better of Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender Decrypt (131lb) and South African import, Lobo’s Legend (119lb).

“He was professional, he had to be patient and wait for a run to be presented and I thought he showed a bit of tenacity to let down for a big horse and show a turn of foot like that – it could have been a bit cosier had he got rolling earlier,” Whyte said, adding, “a win is a win and I was glad with the way he showed a bit of courage.”

Standing at 1205lb, Super Wealthy was the second heaviest galloper in Sunday’s contest behind Taking Aim (120lb) – who tipped the scales at 1223lb.

“Every run he’s digesting more and he’s learning more and today he would have gone home well-educated stepping up in distance, getting cover and knowing now that he can settle behind horses on the speed and still enjoy himself.”

Super Wealthy was one of three representatives for Whyte in the final three races of today’s card; while Inner Flame was slow away to finish twelfth in the Class 3 Kwai Shing Handicap (1200m), Farhh Above battled only fairly in the Class 3 Lai King Handicap (1400m).

“I’ll have to go home and see what happened, honestly the way he’s (Farhh Above) been working and I said to Alexis (Badel) the biggest downfall of today is that you never got a feel of him because the feel he gives me in the mornings is incredible and I’m sure there will be something,” Whyte explained.

Shinn bounces back

Blake Shinn returned from a successful Australian hit-and-run mission to end a 72-ride run of outs by partnering Ever Laugh to victory in the Class 4 Shek Yam Handicap (1600m).

Shinn last entered the winner’s stall in Hong Kong aboard Golden Four on 11 January, but yesterday did so in Australia when securing the G2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick with Mamaragan.

The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey has tallied nine winners from 226 rides in Hong Kong while also partnering an irritating 32 seconds, 11 of which have come between his two wins in 2020.

“It’s great to get another win on the board in Hong Kong, it’s been a little while between drinks with plenty of seconds in there but it’s good to get another winner on the board,” the Australian said.

Ever Laugh was the first of a double for Manfred Man, after E Star rallied under Alex Lai in the Class 3 Kwai Shing Handicap (1200m).

Top Score made all in the Class 3 Lai King Handicap (1st Section) at 41/1 for Matthew Poon, ensuring that Francis Lui remained within two wins of championship leader Yiu.

Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton secured a race-to-race double early on, partnering the Dennis Yip-trained Trust Me in the Class 4 Lei Muk Shue Handicap (1000m) before driving Regency Gem home in the Class 5 Tai Wo Hau Handicap (1600m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley this Wednesday (4 March).