The race for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship is the gift that keeps on giving as the season enters its final six meetings, with Caspar Fownes confirming he is “not taking anything for granted” despite holding a five-win advantage.

Danny Shum, on 59 victories, is Fownes’ closest rival, and Mark Newnham (58) is hot on Shum’s heels, while Francis Lui (54), David Hayes (52) and John Size (50) have also cracked the half-century but would require a near-miracle to seize the title at this point.

One thing that could work against Fownes is the split of fixtures in the last few weeks of the campaign, with four meetings at Sha Tin and only two at Happy Valley due to the staging of the Hong Kong Reunification Raceday at the New Territories venue on Wednesday, 1 July.

Fownes has trained a record 43 winners at Happy Valley this season compared to only 21 at Sha Tin, but the 58-year-old isn’t concerned about having only two more opportunities to strike gold at the city circuit.

“It is what it is. I’ve given it 110 per cent and hopefully we can continue to find the winners,” said Fownes.

“I’m happy with where I’m at, and it should be fine. We’re ticking off the winners, but it’s still game on and there’s still a long way to go. As long as we keep training winners, we will be fighting on until the end.

“Hopefully, I can get it done but I’m not taking anything for granted. Anyone could land three or four winners in a day and change the whole dynamic of things.”

Fownes praised star Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira for adding impetus to his title push since he came on board as his stable rider in April, with the pair combining for 23 wins from 133 attempts this season.

“He’s been great and he’s the only one who can compete against Zac (Purton) – if he came here full-time, he would probably beat Zac,” Fownes said.

Looking ahead, last-start third-placegetter Elegant Life in the first section of the Class 4 Lam Tsuen River Handicap (1200m) is among Fownes’ leading hopes at Sha Tin this weekend (Saturday, 27 June), while he’s looking forward to running a host of other in-form gallopers between now and the end of the season on 15 July.

After finishing third in his first start for Fownes on 13 June, Sagacious Life will line up in a Class 1 (1600m) contest at Sha Tin on 12 July, while Pejibaye is targeting the Class 4 1200m dirt race on 4 July after returning from a six-month lay-off with a nice second on the dirt earlier this month.

Last-start winner Target Audience will also be deployed as Fownes continues his title push, lining up in a Class 3 1200m race at Happy Valley on either the 8 or 15 July after saluting on his city circuit debut on 10 June.

“He’s in good form and has pulled up well. He was impressive last start so he will go back to the Valley,” said Fownes, adding that he is still deciding whether another last-start winner, Love Together, lines up in the Class 3 1000m contest on 1 July.

“We’ve also got a few more that I think have got great winning chances, so we are programming them to best effect. It’s very tactical right now and I’m enjoying it.”

Photo: HKJC