Bidding to win a fourth successive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) next Sunday (14 December) with Romantic Warrior, Danny Shum laid the foundations for renewed success at the flagship meeting with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 December).

Shum combined with Karis Teetan and Foremost Teddy (119lb) in the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1650m, dirt) before Gorgeous Win (125lb) prevailed in the Class 2 Chatham Handicap (1200m, dirt) to give Hugh Bowman a double as he prepares for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (10 December).

Shum moved into outright third in the 2025/26 trainers’ championship with 20 wins behind Mark Newnham (24) and Caspar Fownes (21) as he prepares to saddle Romantic Warrior in search of a record-extending fourth LONGINES Hong Kong Cup win – a feat which would propel the globetrotting galloper to a Hong Kong record 11th Group 1 triumph.

Bowman, who will ride Moments In Time, Helios Express, Red Lion and Massive Sovereign in the four Group 1s at LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, will compete with 11 rivals at the four-race LONGINES IJC in strong form after five wins across the last five meetings.

Having scored on John Size-trained Wukong Jewellery (131lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Kimberley Handicap (1400m), Bowman was pleased with Gorgeous Win’s debut on dirt.

“It was a good win, he’s been out of form but he’s been feeling good at home on the track so it might have been a confidence thing with him,” Bowman said. “I feel he hasn’t been giving enough effort.

“His work on Thursday morning (4 December) was very encouraging and I think the change to the All-Weather was the difference because today we saw him compete – I’m very proud of him.”

Frankie Lor notched his 250th win at Sha Tin turf when three-year-old first-starter Embrace Aberdeen (125lb) scored an upset victory in the Class 4 Carnarvon Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Poon. Sent off at 59/1, the All Too Hard gelding prevailed by a short head over Aurio (129lb).

“He (Embrace Aberdeen) looked like he was still a little bit fat but I’d trialled him five times already so it was time to put him in a race. Drawing (barrier) nine was a little bit tricky so I asked the jockey to follow the horse on his inside and go forward and he got him in a good position. To win was a surprise though,” Lor said. “You can see today he was still only around 80 per cent (fit), so I think he will improve from this race.”

13-time champion trainer Size sealed a brace with Wukong Jewellery and Stellar Express (128lb), who proved too strong in the Class 3 Middle Handicap (1000m), while Zac Purton also snared a double after striking aboard With A Smile (135lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Kimberley Handicap (1400m) for Chris So and the impressive Little Paradise (135lb) in the Class 3 Salisbury Handicap (1400m) for Jimmy Ting.

By Toronado, Little Paradise soaked up midrace pressure to emerge as a potential Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender.

“It was a really good effort, he had to do a bit of work early. the runners on the inside kept kicking up on a solid speed and then when I found my position, I had a horse three-wide come up outside me and get him back on the bit when I wanted him to relax and travel,” Purton said.

“So, with the weight on his back, to give a good kick and hang on was a great effort.”
Notthesillyone (122lb) posted his second course and distance success with victory in the Class 4 Austin Handicap (1200m, dirt) for Mark Newnham, impressing Luke Ferraris.

“He’s a horse that’s taken a while to acclimatise to Hong Kong. He’s definitely improved – he’s just one of those horses who took time to get used to the place,” Ferraris said.

“Mark and the team have done a great job with him. He’s come from the middle of Class 5 to winning in Class 4 and the way he went today with his demeanour suggests he could do it again with more weight. Really happy with him and looking forward to next time.”

Foremost Teddy rewarded his connections’ patience when the gelding dominated from the front to easily prevail. The Fastnet Rock gelding had logged six minor placings in 26 previous starts, but scored impressively under a positive Teetan ride.

Caspar Fownes’ Glory Cloud (127lb) followed suit under Ellis Wong to clinch the Class 5 Cameron Handicap (1200m), prevailing at his 20th attempt.

“Very happy, the horse has been with us a long time and had a lot of problems. I’d like to really thank the owners (Fung Pak Kei) for their patience – they’re lovely people and I’m very happy I could get a winner for them,” Fownes said.

“Hopefully the horse can kick on, even if he’s a bit older. Hong Kong is funny, sometimes these horses can improve, they take time and have a lot of issues and then (win).”

 Vincent Ho limbered up for the LONGINES IJC with victory on Dennis Yip’s Another World in the Class 3 Mody Handicap (1650m, dirt) as the Kermadec gelding posted his first win on the surface.

Hong Kong horse racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (10 December) with the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship.