Caspar Fownes treasures ‘wonderful memories’ after Derby winner Sky Darci breaks down

Trainer Caspar Fownes has paid tribute to 2021 Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci after the galloper broke down in Sunday’s Group One Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.

Sky Darci had to be humanely euthanised after shattering his left-hind joint at the 800m mark.

“He is such a lovely horse and he’s been so much fun to have in the stable,” Fownes said. “In a short period of time he’s given us a lot of wonderful memories. It’s very sad.”

Sky Darci was having his 20th start and amassed seven wins and over HK$25 million in prize money, with his final three starts coming at Group One level.

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Sky Darci (NZ)
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J : J. Moreira
T : C. Fownes
O : Jessica Kwan Mun Hang
B : M W Freeman & D G Price
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Much like his trainer on his way to the premiership, Sky Darci produced a massive 2020-21 season. After two wins in Class Three, he jumped straight into Class One and made it three wins on the trot.

The five-year-old then followed up his Derby victory by taking out the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m), while he also finished runner-up twice at Group Three level during a nine-start campaign.

Looking the goods

The punters came for him late and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Looking Great didn’t disappoint in the Class Two Ambitious Dragon Handicap (2,000m).

Backed into $2.95 in the final minutes of betting to start a narrow second elect behind Berling Tango ($2.7), Looking Great’s consistency was rewarded as he broke through for his third Hong Kong victory.

Racing at 2,000m for the first time, Looking Great followed up a third at a mile and a last-start second over 1,800m with a strong victory.

“He’s always very consistent and with a good draw last start, I think he could have won – 1,600m, 1,800m and 2,000m, all are no problem for him,” Lor said.

After double-figure draws in his past three runs, Looking Great settled midfield on the rail from gate two under Matthew Chadwick and finished the strongest, defeating Enjoying by half a length with Charity Go a close third.

The win momentarily drew Lor level with John Size at the top of the trainers’ championship but the latter responded emphatically later on the card, ringing up a double thanks to the victories of Leading Fortune and Gallant Express.

Packing a punch

Francis Lui Kin-wai may have suffered more Golden Sixty heartache on Sunday but he did land his second debut winner in the space of a fortnight thanks to Packing Treadmill’s perfect start in the Class Four Gold-Fun Handicap (1,200m).

Zac Purton positioned Packing Treadmill ($9.95) two back on the rail from gate two and remained patient into the straight, pulling him out at the 300m and letting him reel in the leaders.

“I think the draw helped him a lot because it was his first start, you can see he is still a little bit green in between horses,” said Lui, who also tasted success with first-starter Gallant Waking recently.

“I thought he had a chance but I really didn’t have the confidence to say he could win. We had a good jockey and good draw though.”

It was the first of a double for Purton as he drew within three winners of Joao Moreira in the jockeys’ premiership, with the Australian also getting the chocolates aboard Voyage Bubble.

After doing everything but win when running a close second on debut last month, punters sent Voyage Bubble out a $1.75 favourite and he delivered in spades to put three lengths on placegetters Brave Dreams and Fortune Carrier in the Class Four Happy Zero Handicap (1,200m).

“We’re going to space his runs and keep him ticking over and hope that maybe next season he can participate in the four-year-old series. I think 1,400m to a mile is OK because he relaxes so well,” said trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai.

“He’s still raw, still green but raw fish is still edible. The way he won – he’s still green, there’s a lot of improvement in him.”

Flying Ferraris

After snuffing out a little dry spell with victory aboard Killer Instinct at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Luke Ferraris made it two wins in as many meetings with a shock result aboard outsider Majestic Victory.

While declaring he was hopeful Killer Instinct’s win would get the ball rolling, it is unlikely Ferraris was pinning his hopes on Majestic Victory to help him build momentum.

Sent out a $45 chance in the Class Three Werther Handicap (1,600m) after finishing last under Karis Teetan at Happy Valley last start, Majestic Victory was given a lovely ride from Ferraris.

The 20-year-old settled Tony Cruz’s galloper in the box-seat and after stalking leader Infinite Power into the straight, Ferraris eased Majestic Victory off heels and squeezed him between Infinite Power and favourite Captain Win to nab the lead 100m from home and salute.

It was Ferraris’ eighth victory of his maiden Hong Kong campaign.