Reigning champion trainer Caspar Fownes is making every post a winner in his pursuit of back to back titles and the re-opening of Happy Valley racecourse on Sunday seems only an added positive for him.
Last season was a typical Happy Valley season for Fownes, with 36 of his 62 wins coming there and the next best tally by a trainer was 23 by Tony Cruz.
Fownes, with 14 wins, already has more than double his nearest pursuer this season, and all the racing has been at Sha Tin so far.
The other interesting stat at the Valley has been the strike rate of Fownes there when he combines with champion jockey Zac Purton. Last season they won 19 of 89 together at the quirky track, so this pairing bears some watching as the track reopens after a four-month break due to government works.
Fownes has Purton aboard Jetso Delight in race two as the five-year-old backs up from a nice debut fourth down the straight last weekend and looks the type to be better suited by the 1,200m at the Valley.
Purton also gets back aboard Family Interests in race four for Fownes. That may be significant as the jockey’s only ride on the horse in June saw a big plunge landed at the Valley and Purton was not aboard when Family Interests finished midfield in his only start this campaign.
The top jockey also partners with the stable when Starting Over runs in race eight and for very consistent My Name Is Bond in the tenth race.
The meeting also sees the return to action of jockey championship leader Joao Moreira after suspension, although he, Purton and Douglas Whyte will be at the Valley via Melbourne, as all have bookings in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.
By Nathan Mody
