Britney Wong underlined her potential as she reached a career milestone at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 September) when the 26-year-old achieved her 20th win in Hong Kong.

She rode two winners – reducing her apprentice’s claim to seven pounds from next week – on an intriguing day of racing that also featured a treble for Alexis Badel and doubles for Andrea Atzeni, Mark Newnham and Danny Shum.

“It felt really nice. I actually aimed for those last two winners (to reach 20 wins) on the last day of last season, but I couldn’t achieve it,” Wong said. “So I brushed myself off and tried my best today.”

Wong first struck on Fight Time (122lb) in the first section of the Class 5 Hong Tung Handicap (1400m). Wong’s 10-pound weight allowance was doubtless a factor as she held off Lyle Hewitson’s fast-closing Cashiscash (132lb) with the line coming not a moment too soon for Fight Time.

Hall was glowing in his assessment of Wong’s performance.

“She did a great job. She was caught wide, but obviously, from barrier 13, it was always going to be a chance that that could happen,” Hall said. “But she kept the horse’s balance, kept his rhythm and let him build his momentum up.”

Wong’s second winner was equally as impressive. Drawn 10 in the Class 3 Oi Tung Handicap (1200m, dirt), she got a good start and immediately set about positioning Packing Bole (121lb) on the rail at the head of the field. From there, it was a textbook front-running performance as they comfortably held a fast-finishing Mr Energia (122lb) to wrap up a routine one-and-a-half length victory.

The second-year apprentice said the approach was all part of a plan.

“Today it was really good that the pace just panned out as we wanted because he’s a very straightforward horse,” Wong said. “He always just leads and keeps on a very strong pace, and no one was trying to give me any pressure.”

Badel’s superb summer continued as he landed a treble that took his tally for the season to four.

Fresh from a successful stint in Japan during the off-season, which yielded 12 wins, six seconds and six thirds from 69 rides, the Frenchman has hit the ground running this term.

He opened his Sha Tin account in the second section of the Class 5 Hong Tung Handicap (1400m), aboard My Flying Angel (127lb), providing Frankie Lor with his first winner of the season.

The five-year-old showed a blistering turn of foot at the end of a well-paced trip from Badel, reeling in the favourite Circuit Fiery (133lb), who had opened up a three-length gap off the final bend.

He followed that up with a surprise victory aboard 65/1 shot Same To You in the Class 4 Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m).

Securing a race-to-race double for trainer Newnham, Badel blazed a furrow down the middle of the straight in the last 200 metres as he swooped from last to first to claim victory.

“It was a little bit of a surprise but a nice surprise,” Newnham said. “Generally, I would have thought that in Class 4 he’d need a really good barrier and a good ride. I said to Alexis: ‘Don’t use him early, ride him to be strong late.’

“I said before the race: ‘It’s a difficult task — in Class 4, with gate 14. If Alexis wants to give us a nice surprise, we’ll take it.’ And it worked out that way!”

Badel completed his hat-trick in the Class 3 Wah Fu Handicap (1400m) with an on-pace ride aboard Master Of All.

The Frenchman acknowledged it had been a good start to the new campaign and attributed some of his success to the freshening effect of his spell in Japan.

“Obviously, it was a confidence booster because I was doing well without too much expectation,” Badel said. “It was like some fresh air, and I feel good, I feel confident.

“I’m grateful because I’ve had some good support and horses in good form,” Badel added. “It’s a team effort. You have to deliver, but you have to be on the right ones.”

Max Que supplied a first win of the season for both Atzeni and Newnham when he landed a first career win in the first section of the Class 4 Kwong Fuk Handicap (1400m). The five-year-old finally broke his duck when he overtook Aeroinvincible at the 100-metre mark to prevail by one-and-a-half lengths.

Jamie Richards’ fine start to the season continued as he claimed the first section of the Class 4 Lok Wah Handicap (1200m) with Jubilant Winner (123lb), ridden by Atzeni, providing his fifth win of the campaign. Having finished the 2024/25 season with 22 winners, Richards has made a rapid start to the current season.

A contender for the most impressive performance of the day was the blistering run from Lyle Hewitson-ridden Metro Power, who claimed the Class 3 Mei Tung Handicap (1000m) for David Hayes. The four-year-old flew home along the Sha Tin straight course in a remarkable 55.33s.

Zac Purton took the Class 4 Hing Wah Handicap (1200m, dirt) aboard Blazing Wind (135lb). The favourite had opened up a lengthy gap in the first dirt contest of the season and looked to be cruising to a second career victory for Danny Shum. But under top weight, he was eventually looking for the line as Daily Trophy (124lb) rocketed down the straight to get within a head of Blazing Wind.

A patient ride from Derek Leung on Sugar Ball (135lb) became the jockey’s second winner this season in the Class 4 Kwong Fuk Handicap (1400m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (17 September).