Tag Archive for: Hong Kong

De Sousa set to appeal against 10-month suspension

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Silvestre de Sousa intends to appeal against a 10-month suspension imposed by the Hong Kong Kong Jockey Club on Friday.

The three-times British champion jockey and fellow rider Vagner Borges both pleaded guilty to breaching rule 59 (3), which states “no jockey shall bet, or facilitate the making of a bet, or have any interest in a bet, on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting”.

According to a press release from HKJC, Borges “had an interest in a bet” on his mount Young Brilliant in a race at Happy Valley on April 26, with De Sousa having “facilitated” that bet.

The statement added that “there was no evidence before the stewards that Borges and De Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts”.

Silvestre de Sousa intends to appeal against his suspension
Silvestre de Sousa intends to appeal against his suspension (Julian Herbert/PA)

However, the stewards also underlined “it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet”.

De Sousa was banned for 10 months, which means he will be sidelined until March 12, 2024, but the rider intends to appeal the decision.

His solicitor Harry Stewart Moore confirmed: “I’m instructed that he will be appealing it.”

Borges was suspended for 12 months, ruling him out until May 12, 2024.

De Sousa moved to Hong Kong last September after riding as a freelance due to his retainer with King Power Racing not being renewed at the start of 2022.

De Sousa handed 10-month ban by Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Silvestre de Sousa has been suspended for 10 months after pleading guilty to a betting charge on Friday.

The three-times British champion jockey pleaded guilty alongside fellow rider Vagner Borges, who was banned for 12 months by the Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards. Both suspensions begin immediately, with De Sousa sidelined until March 12, 2024 and Borges until May 12, 2024.

Both riders were found in breach of rule 59 (3), which states “no jockey shall bet, or facilitate the making of a bet, or have any interest in a bet, on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting”.

Silvestre De Sousa is a three-times British champion jockey (
Silvestre De Sousa is a three-times British champion jockey (Julian Herbert/PA)

According to a press release from HKJC, Borges “had an interest in a bet” on his mount Young Brilliant in a race at Happy Valley on April 26, with De Sousa having “facilitated” that bet.

The statement added that “there was no evidence before the stewards that Borges and De Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts”.

However, the stewards also underlined “it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet”.

De Sousa moved to Hong Kong last September after riding as a freelance due to his retainer with King Power Racing not being renewed at the start of 2022.

Dubai Honour third as Warrior steals show in QEII

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British raider Dubai Honour had to make do with minor honours in third as Romantic Warrior successfully defended his crown in the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

Following a successful winter in Australia with Group One wins in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour headed for the Far East bidding to become the first British-trained winner in Hong Kong in over 10 years.

The five-year-old had run at Sha Tin before, finishing a close-up fourth in the 2021 Hong Kong Cup, and having seemingly taken his form to another level this year Haggas had high hopes his charge could provide him with a maiden Hong Kong success.

Ridden by Tom Marquand, Dubai Honour moved nicely in midfield for much of the 10-furlong contest and appeared well positioned behind local favourite Romantic Warrior.

However, he was ultimately unable to go with the brilliant winner and while he stayed on admirable, he was also narrowly beaten to the runner-up spot by Prognosis.

Haggas said: “I’m not putting it up as an excuse, but Tom said the gallop was a bit slow and the ground was a bit quick for him.”

Romantic Warrior, who since his success of 12 months ago had also added the Hong Kong Cup to his impressive CV, was bidding to bounce back to winning ways after being beaten in his last two races by Hong Kong legend Golden Sixty – who earlier in the day had won his third Champions Mile.

On the strength of that form Danny Shum’s five-year-old was a hot favourite to make it back-to-back QEII wins and a jubilant James McDonald was able to stand up in the stirrups and salute the crowd before passing the post, such was his dominance at the line.

McDonald, who is now three from three aboard Romantic Warrior, said: “He’s such a beautiful horse. He’s electric out of the gates and is a push button operator with a great will to win.

“He is so relaxed and put on a spectacular performance. His Hong Kong Cup win in December was huge and will be hard to replicate but he was just perfect today – he’s a star.”

Romantic Warrior proved too good for Dubai Honour at Sha Tin
Romantic Warrior proved too good for Dubai Honour at Sha Tin (Neil Morrice/PA)

Shum added: “I’m a bit relieved to be honest and I would like to thank my stable team and especially Gary Lau his work rider.

“Before his last run the vets had to look at him as he developed a mild fever and since then I’ve checked him every morning.

“I’m now keen to take him to Japan for a first start there in October.”

Palmer keen on Guineas bid for Stenton Glider

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Stenton Glider booked her ticket for the Qipco 1000 Guineas when narrowly touched off at Newbury on Saturday.

Reeled in by Ralph Beckett’s Remarquee, with both fillies having just their second starts, the Fred Darling looked well up to standard as a Classic trial this year.

Having won a Chester novice on her debut in September, Stenton Glider was due to run in December, but refused to go in the stalls. She appeared to have done well through the winter, however, and looked in rude health in the Newbury paddock.

Trainer Hugo Palmer believes the striking daughter of Dandy Man warrants her place in the Rowley Mile fillies’ Classic on Sunday week after such a narrow defeat under Tom Marquand.

“Handsome is as handsome does,” laughed the Cheshire-based handler.

“As a trainer, you can’t go making expensive entries like the Guineas with a maiden winner, get beaten two-foot in a trial and then say ‘no’.

“She has got to step up and she’s a 25-1 shot, but she’s only two-foot behind a 6-1 shot. Two foot is nothing.”

Stenton Glider showed plenty of ability, taking a keen hold in the Group Three contest, before being collared inside the last 150 yards.

Palmer has no qualms about the additional furlong in the Guineas as he seeks another Classic success following Galileo Gold’s 2000 Guineas victory in 2016 and the Irish Oaks success of Covert Love in 2015.

He added: “She is going to meet a different test at Newmarket. She’s going to meet a big field and she is going to meet undulations and almost certainly going to encounter quicker ground.

“She showed loads of speed, but I’m certain she’ll stay – and Tom Marquand said a mile will be absolutely no problem to her.

“All her work suggests she’s a miler. She showed loads of speed, but they went very steady. Nothing wanted to lead, the time was very slow for good fillies.

Hugo Palmer feels the Rowley Mile will suit Stenton Glider
Hugo Palmer feels the Rowley Mile will suit Stenton Glider (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We feel she will be better on better ground. She could possibly have been a non-runner if her owner hadn’t given up tickets for the snooker World Championships to come and watch her!”

Along with her son Tom, Jane Mairs owns the filly, who is named after the famous racing bicycle invented by her grandfather, Percy Stenton.

The Stenton Glider Cycle Company was based in Ardwick, Manchester, and advertised its machines as ‘The cycle that gives you a sporting chance’.

Palmer added: “Jane’s maiden name was Stenton and her grandfather invented the first drop-handled racing bike, which was called the Stenton Glider, which debuted at the Olympics in the 1920s (Amsterdam 1928).

“All racing bikes now have handles in the drop-handle position and for Jane, who has owned horses in syndicates for a number of years, it has always been her dream to have a horse and call it Stenton Glider.”

Flaming Rib (centre) runs in Hong Kong on Sunday
Flaming Rib (centre) runs in Hong Kong on Sunday (Tim Goode/PA)

Meanwhile, Palmer’s high-class sprinter Flaming Rib, who was runner-up to Perfect Power in the Commonwealth Cup last summer and took a valuable sprint in Doha in February, has settled in well ahead of Sunday’s bid for the six-furlong Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong.

“Flaming Rib is in good order,” said Palmer. “He was invited and he has got to raise his game to feature, but he has travelled over there in good shape and seems to love getting on an aeroplane.

“He won well in Doha and seemed to be on the wrong side in Dubai, the way the race panned out.

“It is over six furlongs and he does seem to have produced his best efforts round a bend.”

Marquand relishing Hong Kong challenge with Dubai Honour

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Tom Marquand is eagerly looking forward to teaming up with Dubai Honour in Sunday’s QEII Cup at Sha Tin following his Australian exploits.

The William Haggas-trained five-year-old has taken his form to new heights this year, winning two Group Ones to emulate his former stablemate Addeybb.

In beating the now-retired Anamoe on his most recent outing, Dubai Honour announced himself on the world stage, displaying a turn of foot that should stand him in good stead this weekend.

Marquand missed his first win in the Ranvet Stakes with a shoulder injury, but was back on board in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes when defeat never looked likely.

“He did what he did in Australia and was pretty exceptional over there. It looks like he’s taken the journey to Hong Kong really well and the updates I’m getting from there are that he looks great and everything has gone to plan so far,” said Marquand.

“I think he is a horse that has just come of age recently. William was very keen on the idea that he hadn’t had him as well as he has him now for a while.”

This will not be Dubai Honour’s first appearance at Sha Tin, as he ran with great credit in December 2021 to be beaten just a length and a half behind Japan’s Loves Only You in the Hong Kong Cup.

“His previous Hong Kong run was a big run, but you’d like to think if he can replicate his Australian form that would put him even a few lengths closer,” said Marquand.

“The ground will be a bit different to what he had in Australia but it wasn’t as slow as it looked like it was going to be that day, it was probably only good to soft ground, by our standards anyway.”

On what has been responsible for him seemingly taking his form to a new level, Marquand suggests a slight change in tactics may be the reason.

He said: “I think the way we ride him now has brought about a change. The day he finished second in the Champion Stakes, James (Doyle) dropped him in because we had Addeybb that day who went forward and he showed that turn of foot, but that was on bottomless ground.

“To be honest, we’ve been riding him close enough (to the pace) until he went back to Australia, where he has really shown a finishing kick. I think that was down to the way we rode him.

“It doesn’t look as if there are going to be too many runners at the weekend so hopefully we can do a similar thing.”

Flaming Rib will be better suited going around a bend
Flaming Rib will be better suited going around a bend (Tim Goode/PA)

Marquand has also picked up the ride on Hugo Palmer’s Flaming Rib in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

Impressive at Doha on his penultimate run, he was well beaten in Dubai subsequently but Marquand hopes the track layout will be in his favour this time.

“Going around a bend will be in his favour. He won in Qatar really well and he performs to a good level,” said Marquand, who will be riding him for the first time.

“Obviously he has to take on some very good sprinters, but hopefully he can put in a career best and go close.

“I fly Friday night, I’m back in Ireland on Monday and then probably Yarmouth Tuesday so it’s an in-and-out job!”