Caspar Fownes reclaimed the lead in the trainers’ championship with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, while Zac Purton was made to wait at least another four days to secure his 2,000th Hong Kong win after moving to within one of the milestone.
Fownes drew level with Shum on 56 wins after Audacious Pursuit and Elegant Life’s victories, but he jumped back to the top of the table by virtue of more seconds than Shum.
With just 13 meetings left this season, Mark Newnham is close behind Fownes and Shum on 53 wins while Francis Lui Kin-wai (50) and David Hayes (49) are also in contention.
“We’re trying our best, that’s for sure,” Fownes said.
Joao Moreira had the biggest haul of his late-season stint since a Valley four-timer last month, guiding Fownes’ pair to victory before sealing a treble on Cody Mo Wai-kit’s Lucky McQueen in the first section of the Class Four Ciron Handicap (1,200m).
