Shum seeks to close out Challenge

Danny Shum will bid for a fourth victory in the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge at Happy Valley today when six horses could potentially claim the series.

While Shum leads the series with Chill Chibi (49 points) from Pierre Ng’s Humble Star (46) – who are not running today – five other horses remain in contention to clinch the series: Shum’s Copartner Ambition (45), Douglas Whyte’s Majestic Knight (42), Benno Yung’s Son Pak Fu (39) and Tourbillon Prince (37) and David Hayes’ Tomodachi Kokoroe (36).

The DBS x Manulife Million Challenge is for horses competing in Class 3 and above with the overall champion decided on a format where 15 points are awarded for first, six for second, four for third and three for fourth placings in races at Happy Valley between September and February.

The overall winner of the series will earn HK$1 million, with HK$350,000 for second and HK$150,000 for third.

Of the leading contenders today, Majestic Knight, Son Pak Fu and Tomodachi Kokoroe clash in the Class 1 Singapore Pools Handicap (1200m), Tourbillon Prince runs in the Class 3 Village Handicap (1650m) and Copartner Ambition contests the Class 3 Sing Woo Handicap (1200m).

With four wins – including three in Class 3 – at the city circuit this season, Copartner Ambition is best-placed to overtake stablemate Chill Chibi as Shum bids to match his previous series wins with Speedy Longwah (2015/16), Charity Glory (2017/18) and Grateful Heart (2020/21).

If successful, Shum would match the feat of Caspar Fownes, who has scored with Socrates – who tied with Easy in 2006/07 – Ocean Wide (2008/09), Twin Delight (2014/15) and Nearly Fine (2022/23).

Andrea Atzeni takes the ride on Copartner Ambition and the pair will start from barrier No 3.

Atzeni said: “He’s an improving horse and he’s obviously got a great draw (No 3), which helps, and he seems in good form.”