A winning double on Friday night’s sand card has edged Tony Fung to a two win lead on 32 wins in the Trainer’s Premiership with just seven race days left of the season.

Fung and Wong have been locked in an intriguing battle for the past few months in their quest for their first ever Champions Title, that looks certain to go right down to the last day.

The highly promising Desi Style under Irishman Wayne Smith was the first of Fung’s winners when he raced on the lead before shooting clear in the straight for an easy win in the Class 3 & 4 over 1050 metres.

From just seven race starts the three year old son of Captain Sonador (Aus) has now won three races and placed on two occasions, all on the sand surface.

Darling Ten was the second of Tony Fung’s winners when he bolted away with the Class 4 & 5 over 1050 metres to score his maiden win under Brazilian rider Ruan Maia.

Danny Wong countered with a record breaking victory by Oriental Profit in the Class 1 & 2 over 1510 metres with Ruan Maia in the saddle.

Oriental Profit has developed into a class act on the sand winning five races and running six seconds from his 11 starts on the surface. The four year old son of Mastercraftsman (Ire) recorded 1.32.2 shaving .01 off the track record set by his stablemate Best Of Luck also ridden by Maia back in May.

Both Fung and Wong are former Hong Kong apprentices that made the move to Macau to ride in the late 80’s. Fung has been training in his own right for nine years and Wong for the lesser time of only three years.

Danny Wong was runner up to Sio Cheong with 36 winners in his second year as a trainer in 2016. Tony Fung has managed two third placed efforts in the trainer’s standings in 2015 behind Patrick Lee and in 2017 behind K H Leong both times with 27 winners.

As far as horse power goes Wong has a stable of thirty three horses with more newcomers that are ready to go. Fung on the other hand with only 25 horses in his yard, will be looking at next season with his new arrivals. Both stables have their share of quality horses so it will all come down to shrewd planning and luck for the remaining six weeks.

Fung has the best strike rate of a 15% win and a 38% place hit with his 32 wins, 32 seconds and 15 thirds from his 210 runners for the season so far. His horses have won $6.8 million HKD to date.

Wong has a win rate of 10% and a place strike of 29% with his 30 winners, 29 seconds and 30 third placed efforts for his 302 runners for the season, and over $9.2 million HKD in stakes won.

In the Jockeys’ race Ruan Maia has had that parceled up for months and now has a massive lead on 53 wins over Luis Corrales in second on 33 victories, with third spot held down by Peter Ho on 30 winners.

Rising star Happiness Rose made it four wins on end with a runaway win in the Class 2 & 3 over 1350 metres for trainer Victor Chan.

Happiness Rose only goes to scale at just over 1000 pounds but is all heart and has on two occasions lumped 132 pounds to victory with ease. In Friday night’s contest the son of Australian Group 3 winner Walking Or Dancing was fired out of gate 12 by regular jockey Luis Corrales to zip across the face of the field to lead comfortably. Pressured by the stablemate momentarily down the side in Baby Horse, Happiness Rose was let rip by Corrales on straightening to power away for another easy win.

“He is only a little horse but he is so strong. He just keeps going up in class and just keeps on improving.” Corrales said.

Happiness Rose has only raced eight times with his first four runs being on the turf. Those runs were all full of merit, however since Victor Chan has switched him to the all weather he has been a revelation, and the easy manner of his wins and run times indicate there is plenty more to come.