Hong Kong | Australia Melbourne Cup and Racing News

The new Hong Kong racing season kicked off yesterday at Sha Tin racecourse with former Queensland jockey Michael Rodd grabbing the headlines with a first up treble.

While Rodd took out the feature race aboard Able Prince in the Chief Executive’s Cup trainer John Moore took out the training honours with four winners on the nine race card.

Brett Prebble notched his first win of the new season while Corey Brown led home an Australian trifecta in the last when he beat home Chris Munce and Rodd to give Australian jockeys five winners for the day.

Vengeance Of Rain, last season’s Champion Middle Distance performer and Champion Stayer in Hong Kong will race in a specially conducted trial between races in Hong Kong to ensure he is in peak condition for the WS Cox Plate on October 22.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has scheduled a trial for Saturday 17 September in which the Raymond Gianco Chow Hoi owned Vengeance of Rain will run against a handful of other horses between two of the programmed races.

The David Ferraris trained son of Zabeel has raced nine times in Hong Kong for five wins and three placings since arriving from Australia. Vengeance of Rain was undefeated last racing season taking out the Group 3 Centenary Vase over 2000 metres, the Hong Kong Group 1 Derby over 2000 metres and the Group 1 QE II Cup again over 2000 metres.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has granted Sydney rider Chris Munce a three-month riding contract.

The Melbourne Cup winning jockey said the invitation had come as a shock after applying to the club several months ago.

Fellow Sydney rider Corey Brown was granted a three-month extension of his Jockey Club licence while Brett Prebble was granted a six-month extension and Michael Rodd three-months for next season.

Globe trotting Victorian jockey Craig Williams will be returning to Australia when the current season ends after missing out on a contract extension. Williams, who is currently out suspended has ridden in Hong Kong for the past three seasons.