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Aiming to extend a remarkable consistency, David Hall hopes Flying Ace can kick-start his stable’s quest for more success in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) when the 2024/25 Hong Kong season opens at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 September).
Hall notched 44 wins last season to match his previous best haul – set in 2022/23 – crowning another fine campaign with Invincible Sage's triumph in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m).
The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer won the opening race of last season with Dazzling Fellow in tandem with Hugh Bowman, who takes the mount on Flying Ace in Sunday's feature.
"I thought Flying Ace trialled really well (when second over 1050m at Sha Tin on 27 August). He's on a difficult rating (107) and there's not a lot of choice for him in terms of where to go," Hall said.
"I thought he went really well in the trial. He had a break at Conghua and came out and trialled quite sharply, so that was positive."
Flying Ace galloped on Monday morning (2 September) under Bowman, quickening over the final 800m in 50.0s (27.1s, 22.9s) at Sha Tin.
The winner of six races from 22 starts in Hong Kong, the Swiss Ace gelding rose from 88 to 107 in the ratings last season, posting solid results at the elite level in finishing fifth to Victor The Winner in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and fourth to stablemate Invincible Sage in the Chairman's Sprint Prize.
Hall, however, is adopting a conservative approach with the seven-year-old after previous soundness issues.
"He's had knee surgery and he climbed the ladder a long way last season and any win he can get now is a bonus," Hall said. "Given where his rating is, there's no real lofty goals but we just want for him to continue to perform as well as he has and if he can pinch one, it would be a big bonus."
Flying Ace is among 10 entries for the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup and could face Ka Ying Rising, Lucky With You,Majestic Knight , Packing Treadmill, Beauty Charge, Superb Capitalist, Beauty Waves, Harmony N Blessed and Baby Crystal.
Hall hopes to have about six entries this weekend and expects the new term to kick off in highly competitive fashion with several rival trainers also targeting a successful opening day.
"It looks like there'll be strong entries on Sunday. There are a lot more people up and about with a lot of horses trialling, so it will be interesting to see how strong all the races are but we'll have a couple of horses there to be competitive," he said, confirming Britney Wong will be given the opportunity to compete in a Hong Kong race for the first time.
"At this stage, Britney has got one ride for us on Glorious Expert and we hope she can make a good start and get some good experience."
Wong, 25, is Hong Kong's first homegrown female jockey to ride full time in the city since the retirement of Kei Chiong in 2018. Wong rode 50 winners from 602 rides in South Australia and also rode in races and trials in New Zealand.
A product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Apprentice Jockeys' School, the apprentice has ridden in several Hong Kong trials, most recently at Sha Tin on Saturday (31 August) aboard Dennis Yip-trained Soaring Tower.
Wong is hopeful of gaining race riding opportunities from other trainers.
The 2024/25 Hong Kong season starts at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 September) with the first race scheduled for 12.50pm.
