#Francis Lui

The HK$18.5 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint has fast become a global sprint championship race, with horses lining up regularly from many of racing's leading jurisdictions to determine which horse is quickest. Originally run over the straight 1000m course as a Listed race, Hong Kong legend Fairy King Prawn won the first edition in 1999. The…

Golden Sixty: created history by retaining his Champions Mile crown Golden Sixty became Hong Kong's highest earner in history by dominantly retaining the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile on Sunday. California Spangle was given a soft time in front but the 2-5 favourite travelled ominously well throughout under Vincent Ho and picked off that rival easily…

Trained by Francis Lui and paired each time this season with Vincent Ho, the five-year-old - who had corrective throat surgery twice in 2021 - has three wins from four starts this term and once again steps up in grade after victories in Class 4 and Class 5. "His improvement surprised us, for sure, first time in Class 3 with a lighter weight might…

Down On Da Bayou blitzes her rivals in Thursday's UAE Oaks at Meydan, and now is headed for the Saudi Derby. Photo by Erika Rasmussen, courtesy of Dubai Racing Club Feb. 21 (UPI) Weekend horse racing features a dash of Kentucky Derby, Saudi Derby, Hong Kong Derby, Qatar Derby and even the Winter Derby with action from the Far East to the Middle…

The Hong Kong International Raceday has arrived with four Group Ones on the menu, highlighted by the HK$34million Longines Hong Kong Cup. Race 1 - Class 4 (1400m) The opener is a Class 4 over the 1400m and CIRCUIT MIGHTY (1) can just about make it back to back wins. The five-year-old has come back in good order this season and was too good for…

Arguably the best horse ever to be trained in Hong Kong, Golden Sixty became a household name during the region's strict Covid lockdown period. J A McGrath traces his career ahead of his hat-trick attempt in Sunday's Hong Kong Mile, one of four Group 1 events at the annual HK International Races at Sha Tin Covid lockdown heroes were uncovered in…

Four years on from his busman's holiday during a pre-Covid British summer, Vincent Ho remembers his short spell as part of Mark Johnston's team vividly. "Ryan Moore recommended Mr Johnston because he thought there would be an opportunity to get some rides and I really loved the village of Middleham and the whole experience," he says. "The weather…

Channel Cat, shown winning the Grade I Man o' War in May, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade II Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Nov. 19 (UPI) -- High-class graded stakes racing is spread across North America this weekend, with a turf showdown in New York, a tough mile event for fillies and mares…

Nest (white bridle), shown winning the 2021 Demoiselle at Aqueduct, returns as a heavy favorite in Saturday's Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, a Kentucky Oaks prep. Photo by Joe Labozzetta, courtesy of New York Racing Association Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Potential Kentucky Derby candidates are in action from California to Florida and all the way to…

HORSE racing fans in the UK may be starved of any local action for the foreseeable future, but they still have an opportunity to watch Hong Kong's local flagship event of the racing calendar, the £2million Hong Kong Derby (8.35am) at Sha Tin on Sunday morning. Favourites have had a good record in the 10-furlong contest in recent years, with 11…

Beauty Generation, shown during morning track work Thursday, is one of many headliners on the Champions Day program Sunday at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club April 24 (UPI) -- With much of the world's horse racing still out of action because of the coronavirus, Hong Kong steps up this weekend with a trio of…

Flavien Prat, atop Flightline, looks between his legs for the rest of the field after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic at the Breeders' Cup Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday. Photo by Mark Abraham/UPI | License Photo LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Breeders' Cup is in the rearview mirror and the star of the…

Nailing yet another heart-stopping win under jockey Vincent Ho, Hong Kong's champion savoured the 19th win of his career to set a new record in town, surpassing the previous mantle of 18 he shared with Silent Witness and Beauty Generation, dating back to when the professional era of Hong Kong racing commenced in 1971. Smashing a fine field of 10…

Partnered with jockey Blake Shinn for trainer Douglas Whyte, Russian Emperor savoured his second Group 1 success with a performance deserving of recognition as Hong Kong Champion Stayer (2021/22) after previously blitzing the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m/1m2f) and Golden Sixty in February. Returning to Australia at the conclusion of this…

Zac Purton is already away and clear atop the HK jockeys' table but it would take a brave punter to take a heavy position on this year's trainers' championship. Tony Cruz leads on twelve winners after Street Scream completed a hat-trick at Happy Valley on Sunday but current champ Frankie Lor is only one behind after a double and Francis Lui, John…

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost. There is a lot happening in Hong Kong racing right now as fear and rumours spread as part of the fallout from the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Whispers have been flying around about how the cancellation of racing is…

A day at the races - particularly feature meetings - can provoke a whole range of emotions for those involved, from jockeys, trainers, punters and administrators. That was true again at Sha Tin on Monday, so let's go through some of the immediate responses a few of the key players would've felt amid a couple of shock results. Oh dear. *insert vomit…

Francis Lui Kin-wai has not given up hope of chasing the Triple Crown with Golden Sixty despite confirming his superstar will not run in next Sunday's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2400m). With the first two legs of the Triple Crown - the Stewards' Cup (1600m) and the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) - in his keeping, connections seriously considered…