Johannes Brahms (120lb) completed his transition to sprinting ranks with victory in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (14 November) as Pierre Ng consolidated his lead at the head of the Hong Kong trainers` championship.



Sourced as a Hong Kong Derby (2000m) contender from the powerful Aidan O`Brien stable, the Irish import finished sixth in the 2025 Classic to Cap Ferrat – after also finishing third to Rubylot in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) as a four-year-old.



Ng, who leads the 2026/27 standings with 18 wins from Caspar Fownes (16), has long suspected the Siyouni gelding was best suited over shorter trips and his opinion was vindicated after the five-year-old surged home under Vincent Ho to eclipse Megastar Heart (120lb) by three-quarters of a length with Son Pak Fu (113lb) and Solid State (116lb) dead-heating for third in today`s feature.



“Obviously he bled last season and we had to do everything over again and I just thought he`s more like a sprinter than 1400m or 1600m-plus,” Ng said. “He`s been trialling very well and his first two runs, he ran well. He had a good trial last week and he was happy and comfortable.



“We`ll just keep him to Class 2 (over) 1200m - nothing too fancy and hopefully he can get some more wins. It`s more tempo related than the health issues. If we run him over further, we have to ride him more conservatively and it`s more stressful. So, with a smoother pace and shorter distance, he finds it less stressful.”



Ho, who also combined with Ng when striking aboard The All Rounder (128lb) in the Class 5 Panasonic TV Handicap (1400m) to enhance his chances of participating in the LONGINES International Jockeys` Championship (IJC) on 9 December, also believes Johannes Brahms is best utilised over shorter trips.



“He`s a 1200m horse and he feels more comfortable with this type of track (Good to Yielding), being an Irish horse,” Ho said. “On firm ground, he doesn`t stretch out as much, but today he stretched out really well because of the ground. We need days like this for these horses.



“He`s got quality and he can probably sustain a longer run as long as the track has got some give and today, he won with this quality. With the ground like this, he showed his ability.”



With two places remaining in the LONGINES IJC at Happy Valley next month, Jerry Chau (19 wins) and Ho (16) are best placed to join Ryan Moore, James McDonald, William Buick, Mickael Barzalona, Zac Purton, Saffie Osborne, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Rachel King, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira in the series. Andrea Atzeni is also in contention for LONGINES IJC participation with 15 wins for the campaign after Francis Lui-trained King Dance`s (118lb) triumph in the Class 3 Technics Headphones Handicap (1650m, dirt) and the success of Ricky Yiu`s Jolly Brilliant (120lb) in the Class 3 Panasonic System Kitchen Handicap (1600m).



Matthew Poon notched his 300th Hong Kong winner when Lucky Balerion (124lb) narrowly clinched the Class 4 Panasonic Air-Conditioner Handicap (2000m) for Frankie Lor.



“I`ve been back in Hong Kong since 2017, so 300 is a good number,” said Poon, who won the South Australian Champion Apprentice title in 2015/16 during a productive overseas stint.



“In these 10 years, I have got to know a lot of owners and trainers and I still very much enjoy everything about riding in Hong Kong.



“I want to keep the momentum going. Any winner in Hong Kong is special and memorable. To be honest, every morning when I wake up, I`m very keen to work and I love my job – the replays, the trackwork, everything.”



Chau rode a winner for the seventh meeting in a row with victory on Hailtothevictors (126lb) in the Class 5 Panashop Handicap (1650m, dirt). Trained by David Eustace, Hailtothevictors notched his second course and distance win to cement second position for Chau in the jockeys` championship behind Zac Purton (30).



John Size notched his fourth victory in three meetings when debutant Secret Hedge (125lb) impressively landed the Class 4 (Restricted) Panasonic Water Dispenser Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick, validating the master trainer`s judgement.



“He`s been a beautiful horse at home. I said to Matthew `This is a good horse – it`s just a matter of getting in a spot and he`ll probably finish the race off well`,” Size said. “So, I`m extremely confident he`s a good horse. He`s always shown us plenty at home - it`s been good.”



Chadwick completed his best meeting of the 2026/27 campaign by sealing a double on Cody Mo`s Lucky Candy (122lb) in the Class 3 Panasonic Rice Cooker Handicap (1000m). Mo also secured a brace with the spectacular debut of four-year-old Little Gut (132lb) in the Class 4 Panasonic IH Cooker Handicap (1200m) for Derek Leung.



Hot Air Ballon (124lb) broke through for Douglas Whyte in the Class 4 Panasonic Thermo Ventilator Handicap (1400m) after a well judged ride by James Orman.



Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (18 November).