Liu Hong-ming's Stable Blesses New Season with Grand Ceremony
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Five prominent Hong Kong racehorse trainers conducted their traditional pre-season stable blessing ceremonies on Monday, seeking auspicious beginnings for the new racing season. Liu Hong-ming's stable attracted the most distinguished gathering of owners and jockeys, underscoring his standing as one of the colony's elite trainers. With 61 victories and more than HK$134 million in prize earnings last season, Liu placed third in both categories on the trainer standings .
Key Points
- Five trainers held ceremonies: Anthony Millard, Douglas Whyte, David Man, Mu Wei-chieh, and Liu Hong-ming
- Liu Hong-ming's stable featured owners of champion horses including 'Wishful' (owners Che Hiu-hung, Tong Hin-fong) and 'Bauhinia Gold' (owners Tang Si-ko, Cheng Shing-hei)
- Jockeys in attendance included Vincent Ho, Joao Moreira, Alexis Badel, Alexis Archane, Jerry Chau, Matthew Poon, and Harry Bentley
- Liu finished last season ranked third with 61 wins and HK$134 million in prize money
- His stable currently has 23 new horses not yet raced in Hong Kong
- Trainer Douglas Whyte will field 'Lucky Year', 'Sunrise East', and 'King's Castle' on September 6
- Man Ka-leung's 'Self-improvement' returns to Seoul's Korean Sprint on September 6, with Wu Hin-tung riding
Why It Matters
The strong attendance at Liu Hong-ming's blessing ceremony reflects the high expectations surrounding his operation heading into the new season, particularly given his impressive third-place finish last term. As multiple stables finalize their September 6 Sha Tin opening day lineups and David Man's 'Self-improvement' prepares for its international engagement in Seoul, the new Hong Kong racing season promises competitive action across both local and overseas circuits .
The strong attendance at Liu Hong-ming's blessing ceremony reflects the high expectations surrounding his operation heading into the new season, particularly given his impressive third-place finish last term. As multiple stables finalize their September 6 Sha Tin opening day lineups and David Man's 'Self-improvement' prepares for its international engagement in Seoul, the new Hong Kong racing season promises competitive action across both local and overseas circuits .