Fresh from an impromptu riding cameo in Great Britain, Harry Bentley hopes to spark a successful start to the 2025/26 Hong Kong season when he partners Victor The Winner in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September).
Pitted against fellow Group 1 winners Ka Ying Rising and Lucky Sweynesse, G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Victor The Winner will jump from barrier eight for Bentley and trainer David Eustace, having won the 2023 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup for Danny Shum and Karis Teetan.
Bentley, 33, will ride Victor The Winner – a seven-time course and distance victor – for the first time.
“I galloped him on Tuesday (2 September) and he felt very well. Naturally, we’re taking on the likes of Ka Ying Rising, so it’s going to be a very tough ask for anyone but ‘Victor’ has got the minimum weight of 115 (pounds), which I’ll be doing.
“You have got to give any horse with that sort of weight some sort of a chance and I’m happy with the ride, pleased to have picked him up and we’ll give it a good crack.”