The DBS x Manulife Million Challenge has ended in a tie for the second time in three seasons after Danny Shum’s Copartner Ambition and David Hayes’ Tomodachi Kokoroe shared series honours at Happy Valley on Wednesday (21 February).
Decided on a format of 15 points for a win, six for second, four for third and three for third in Class 3 races and above from September until tonight, ultimate success in the series hinged on Copartner Ambition’s performance in the Class 3 Sing Woo Handicap (1200m).
Needing a win for outright victory after Tomodachi Kokoroe seized the lead with victory in the Class 1 Singapore Pools Handicap (1200m), Copartner Ambition finished second to Bon’s A Pearla – which was sufficient for a share of the major prize.
With three wins and a second each, Copartner Ambition and Tomodachi Kokoroe tallied 51 points, while Chill Chibi finished with 49 points with three wins and a third.
The two sets of winning owners each collected bonuses of HK$675,000, while Chill Chibi earned HK$150,000 for his connections.
Seemingly struggling at the 400m, Copartner Ambition’s effort to pip Winning Icey by a short head for second place presented Shum with his fourth win in the series and left Hayes with his first.
“I’m happy, very happy,” Shum said. “Keeping my owners happy, keeping my horses happy is a major part of my job. This horse has done a very good job. It’s a long series, so it’s good to win.”
It is the first tie in the Challenge since Fa Fa and Cheerful Days shared the honours with 60 points each in 2022.
Shum previously scored with Speedy Longway (2015/16), Charity Glory (2017/18) and Grateful Heart (2020/21) and his four wins matches that of Caspar Fownes.