The title is within Caspar Fownes's grasp, and he's going for it with guns blazing! The renowned trainer sits just a whisker away from securing his fifth championship as the season hurtles towards its climax. With only four meetings left to run, Fownes has a five-winner buffer over Danny Shum and a six-winner advantage over Mark Newnham – talk about being in the driving seat!
At Sha Tin this weekend, Fownes is unleashing his formidable force of eight gallopers, including Superb Spirit, who's set to bid for a hat-trick in the Philip Chen Trophy (1.45pm). This Zousain son has been on fire lately, romping home by a comfortable margin over the same course and distance last month – and with his previous wins on soft ground safely tucked away, he looks all systems go! But can anyone stop him? Solid State is one to watch, having impressed in trials since being snapped up for a whoppng £900,000 as a yearling in Australia.
Tang Heart is another key contender from Fownes's stable, lined up to tackle the seven-furlong Lee Trophy Handicap (2.20pm). This talented runner has already caught the eye with two impressive performances and should thrive over the increased distance – especially considering he's previously clocked up a win over this trip in Australia. But will it be enough to see off Chill Easy, who romped home recently but now carries a hefty 10-pound penalty and faces an outside draw in gate 14? Other horses worth keeping an eye on include All's Well and Refusetobeenglish, both looking well-handicapped on their best form, alongside Sugar Goodson – a former Gordon Elliot stable inmate from Ireland who won his only race over a mile at Navan, beating subsequent Epsom Derby-placed James J Braddock on soft ground.
Fownes's strong hand at Sha Tin also includes Verbier in the Swain Cup Handicap (9.30am) and Pejibaye in the Chan Trophy Handicap (11.40am), both solid favourites to deliver more points for their champion trainer. With these horses, Fownes could potentially seal his championship victory well before the final meeting – talk about putting the icing on the cake!
So what's the strategy here? Fownes is playing all his aces at once, determined to wrap up that elusive fifth title and send shockwaves through the Hong Kong racing scene. Will he succeed in dominating the competition this weekend?
Source: Local Hong Kong media