Caspar Fownes extended his trainers’ lead with a third win at Happy Valley on Wednesday night alongside Joao Moreira, who rode Forza Toro in the Grade Four Eight to Glory (1,650m).
Fownes is currently top of the table with 69 wins – six ahead of Danny Shum Chap-shing, with whom he has battled for the lead throughout the season and also scored twice on the night.
“It was a battle tonight. I knew (Shum) was going to bring a few, but like I always said, I’ve been planning for the last few meetings to put up some shots and we needed them tonight. If I didn’t get anything, he would have been right there with me in the last two meetings, so it’s game on now,” Fownes said.
Fownes was jubilant as he celebrated his third win of the night, as he moved closer to a fifth title with just two games left of the season.
“The party was from the heart – I’ve had a lot of silence, it’s all stressing me out and as much as I’m trying to hold it all in, sometimes I have to let it go and I’m who I am. I’m in a good place and I’m very happy with where I’m at – I’ve still got a lot of shots in the last two days too,” Fownes said.
The Eight To Glory saw a unique concept unfold on Wednesday, combining football and racing – eight runners lined up in silks inspired by the quarter-final teams in the Fifa World Cup, with Joao Moreira and Forza Toro flying high for Spain.
“All the credit has to go to (Fownes) and the team who have done a great job. I have to say I’m the lucky person to be a part of it – an amazing night. You couldn’t ask for a better night,” Moreira said.
Jumping well from the first barrier, the four-year-old by Acclaim controlled the race throughout the trip and did not give up another chance, winning by an impressive third length on the podium.
Jumbo Blessing put in a great performance to win the Grade Four Volley Handicap (1,000m) after a messy start. The well-backed $2.85 gelding looked desperate to recover and swept out to record a comfortable half-length victory over Beauty Show.
Fownes hit three on the night when Dancing Classics won a wide trip from barrier 10 to score easily in the Class Three Breakaway Handicap (1,000m), edging out Candlelight Dinner by two-and-a-half lengths with the blinkers on for the first time.
“The classical dances were disappointing at the beginning of the end and I said ‘okay, you’re lending it to us, so it’s time to blink.’ Don’t forget, this is a horse that was away for two seasons before he ran and won his first race for us,” Fownes said.
“I know he’s a very talented horse and I’m hoping that’s the winning point now where he’ll get on with it and now he’s in his right mind. He was third wide but he was trucking up there and Joao said he took the pace well – he was careful and came through the line well.”
Moreira also credited the blink of an eye for a big improvement from the five-year-old.
“The main reason he won today was his wink. Caspar did it himself – he didn’t even ask me and I’m glad it worked,” Moreira said.
Shum’s double starts with The Perfect Match, with everything lined up from the first hurdle in the Grade Four Goal Handicap (1,200m). Jerry Chau Chun-lok made a midfield run at the fence inside the five-year-old and after hitting the straightaway, he put Looking Bright away by three-quarters of a length.
“He always gets a bad draw, but today he was lucky and got one block. When he gets into a good position it’s easier for him – he struggles when he’s behind,” Shum said.
Shum bounced back with the night’s shortest-priced favorite, $1.7 Leading Proficiency, leading the way to win the Grade Four Title (1,200m).
A superb drive by Zac Purton saw Leadership Skills command from the front to hold off Forerunner by half a length.
“He got a good draw and the inside is good today – Zac did a really good job. You can see he sweated tonight and did the same start last time, so he needs to be calm before his race so he doesn’t burn too much energy. Hopefully he can improve,” Shum said.
Purton also recorded a double on the night thanks to the Jamie Richards-trained Happy United, making it 140 winners for the term.
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