Danny Shum has forged to the lead in an engrossing battle for the 2025/26 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (13 May), taking over from Mark Newnham and Caspar Fownes at the top of the standings.

Shum’s three-timer with Romantic Gladiator, General Redwood and Leading Agility saw the accomplished horseman become the first trainer – other than Newnham or Fownes – to hold the lead in the championship since September.

Since then, Newnham and Fownes have occupied the top two spots with the lead changing hands 11 times.

With 17 meetings left in the season, Shum sits on top with 54 wins from Newnham (52), Fownes (51), David Hayes (48), Francis Lui (47) and John Size (45).

“I will try my best for the championship, but the main thing for me is the horses. I won’t push them any harder just to win it, their health and happiness is the main priority for me,” Shum said.

Shum struck with Romantic Gladiator (120lb) in the Class 3 French May Trophy Handicap (1650m) for Zac Purton, General Redwood (129lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap (1650m) under Angus Chung and Leading Agility (123lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Chantilly Handicap (1200m) for Lyle Hewitson.

Formerly known as Amakhala Warrior when he was unbeaten in two starts for William Knight in England, Romantic Gladiator earned a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus after Purton gave the gelding a precision ride.

“He’s done a good job as a lightly-raced three-year-old to settle in here as he has,” Purton said. “Obviously he had a light weight, barrier one and a perfect run tonight, so everything was there for him to get the victory tonight, if he could,” Purton said.

“But he still has do it (win), he was a bit aggressive in the run and he’s still learning – he has to relax a bit better.”

Shum said: “He (Romantic Gladiator) can handle Happy Valley very well. I’m very happy with that. But he still pulls, he needs to learn to relax a little bit more. He holds his breath, so he needs to learn a little bit more to relax himself. He will be more successful next season.”

General Redwood finished stoutly for Chung to post his second course and distance triumph before Leading Agility slotted his first career win with a stylish performance, while 13-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer Size also remains in the title hunt after the victory of Nebraskan (118lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Chantilly Handicap (1200m) under Andrea Atzeni. Winless in his first 29 Hong Kong starts with nine minor placings, Nebraskan made it two wins in a row after leading throughout.

Lui bolstered his hopes of a second trainers’ championship when Packing Angel (119lb) – third in last season’s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) to Cap Ferrat – returned to top form with a brilliant victory in the Class 2 ParisLongchamp Handicap (1650m) under Harry Bentley.

The gelding underwent knee surgery following the BMW Hong Kong Derby and has slowly built form under Lui’s patient approach.

Purton moved to 1,992 Hong Kong wins with a double after producing an incredible ride to pilot The Azure (124lb) to victory in the second section of the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap (1650m).

Last on the home turn, Purton waited for the gaps to open steaming to his fourth victory on the gelding from four rides.

“I had no choice from the gate (barrier eight) but to go back, he travelled like a winner all the way,” Purton said. “When I started to come through (the field), he started to think about it a little bit but when he found a bit more room, he knuckled down nicely.”

Preparing to ride expected favourite Jimmysstar in the G1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday (16 May), Ethan Brown claimed his second Hong Kong win when David Eustace’s Podium (135lb) outlasted Setanta (134lb) in the Class 5 Maisons-Laffitte Handicap (1650m).

Tony Cruz and Hugh Bowman combined with Liveandletlive (134lb) to land the Class 3 France Galop Cup Handicap (1800m). A dual winner in England for William Muir & Chris Grassick, the Muhaarar gelding controlled the race from the front to claim his second victory in Hong Kong.

Cody Mo continued an excellent season with Motor’s (115lb) success in the Class 3 Deauville Handicap (1200m) for Karis Teetan, who made full use of the inside gate to pilot the Fastnet Rock gelding to his third win from 14 starts.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 May).

By Leo Schlink

Photo: HKJC