Revered as the King of The Valley, Caspar Fownes added further lustre to an imposing city circuit record when Nearly Fine delivered the trainer’s fourth DBS x Manulife Million Challenge success at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (8 February).
Previously successful in the competition with Socrates, who tied with Easy in 2006/07, Ocean Wide in 2008/09 and Twin Delight in 2014/15, Fownes secured a fourth crown with Nearly Fine’s three wins and two thirds in a series restricted to horses racing in Class 3 and above.
Despite finishing fifth behind Francis Lui’s The Irishman, who triumphed in the Class 1 Shan Kwong Handicap (1650m) for Vincent Ho to provide a double for both trainer and jockey, Nearly Fine clinched the series – and a HK$650,000 first prize – with 53 points from Street Scream (48) and Excellent Peers and Yo Beauty (42), who tied for third.
The overall champion is decided by a format where 15 points are awarded for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth placing.
“I’m very happy to get the prize. We tried to do it and it’s nice when you get the winning result. I’m very happy,” said Fownes, who has totalled a record 558 wins at Happy Valley so far.
“He (Nearly Fine) surprised us, really, starting off in Class 3 and then all the way to running extremely well in a Group 3. He’s done us proud. He’s come a long way. He still ran well tonight and I think we have a chance to go to Sha Tin next time and run well.”
Street Scream, who needed to win the Class 3 Sing Woo Handicap (1200m) to displace Nearly Fine, instead ran fourth to Frankie Lor’s Speedy Mouse, while Excellent Peers – another contender with a chance to seal the series with victory – finished fifth in the same race.
Encountered also had a chance to jump into the top three with victory in the Class 3 Tsui Man Handicap (1650m) but was foiled by Danny Shum’s Gorytus, who charged to victory under Jerry Chau despite carrying 133lb and being first-up since his last start in July.
Encountered, who is entered for the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on 19 March, was ultimately beaten by a neck by Gorytus.