Caspar Fownes struck back in the thrilling trainers’ championship battle when he ended a quiet patch to score a double in combination with Joao Moreira at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Despite having 27 runners since his last win, Fownes’ brace saw him jump back up to second in the championship on 53 victories for the season, one behind the leader Danny Shum Chap-shing.

“We’ve had a couple of quiet meetings but to tell you the truth, for me, the tracks have been atrocious – and I’ve been on record in saying that. It’s no one’s fault, we’ve had no sun, you know it is what it is. But it’s been very on-speed bias,” Fownes said.

“It was great to get back on the A course tonight. As you can see, the track actually looks like a proper Hong Kong track. Hopefully we get some sunshine over the next few weeks to help with the repair of the tracks, which is what is badly needed.”

The Heir clinched Fownes and Moreira’s double when showing a stylish turn of foot to run down the leader Superb King by one and a half lengths in the second section of the Class Four Dendrobium Handicap (1,200m).

“He’s more than paid his way and he’s run some nice races without getting his nose in front, so it’s nice to see that result for the owner. He’s a great friend and great supporter of the stable, so well deserved,” Fownes said.

Decision Link was crunched in betting and started at $1.75 as he went on to maintain his perfect record at Happy Valley, making it two from two in the first section of the Class Four Dandelion Handicap (1,650m).

Beginning well, Moreira let the front runners go and followed a strong pace before getting to the outside and out-finishing Northern Beast by half a length.

“We were always going to step him up in trip it’s just unfortunate that at his last few runs, even when he won, he drew the widest gate. His last two starts at Sha Tin have been really good, put the writing on the wall,” Fownes said.

“We’ve always felt he’d get to 1,650m and he’ll be at his best, so we’re happy to get that. The key was obviously the good draw tonight and Joao just sort of having him a little bit handier, and he did in a workmanlike fashion.”

Tony Cruz and Angus Chung Yik-lai also kicked off doubles on Wednesday night with a stunning win by Tycoon Resources that saw the three-year-old make it a perfect two from two in the Class Four Ewo Challenge Trophy (1,000m).

Vetted behind the gates before being cleared to start, the Written Tycoon gelding began fairly from gate five and at the home turn was well back. Despite the relatively short Happy Valley straight, Chung timed his run perfectly, overhauling the runners in front to grab the win on the line by a short head from Grand Nova.

Chung completed his brace with Victor The Winner, who jumped at $59 and led from barrier to box in the Class Two Thistle Handicap (1,200m). It was 843 days since the Toronado galloper had recorded his last win in the 2024 Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m).

Cruz’s Flying Wrote and Jerry Chau Chun-lok turned the tables on Giant Ballon when beating him by one and a half lengths in the Class Three Violet Handicap (1,200m), which developed into a race of two sections down the back straight. With a group of several runners in the first pack, it was up to Flying Wrote to lead the chasing group.

Instead of closing the gap by taking off wide, Chau saved ground closer to the rail, weaving through with an excellent ride to end the three-time winning streak of Giant Ballon who lost no admirers in defeat.

“Last time we were close behind Giant Ballon and today I really believed we could beat him. A lot of credit has to go to Jerry, he rode the perfect race, he put him in the right position throughout and was brave. I think the going helped too, the horse likes a bit of give in the ground and you don’t get that at Sha Tin,” Cruz said.

The David Eustace-trained Vivacious Win stormed home to win by an incredible five lengths from Glorious Journey thanks to a superbly rated ride from Purton in the second section of the Class Four Dandelion Handicap.

“He’s sort of been threatening to win for a little while – he’s been a touch unlucky. Obviously you don’t expect them to win as well as that, but he got a good draw and the race set up nicely. There was good speed on early and Zac judged the tempo of the race perfectly and he put them to bed,” Eustace said.

“I hope the handicapper doesn’t get too carried away. I didn’t think it was the strongest race on paper and as I say, I think the pace early probably exaggerated the margin.”

Karis Teetan and Douglas Whyte combined for Violet Star’s maiden win in the Class Three Hyacinth Handicap (1,650m) when the son of Sioux Nation let down superbly in the straight to win by three quarters of a length over Power Of Vitam.

“[Teetan] trialled him 10 days ago and he got a feel of the horse and he rode him accordingly. He rode him with confidence and gave him a chance. He’s a European horse, and he got going at the right time, and the horse responded well. And really hit the line well,” Whyte said.

“I’ve clearly learned a lot about the horse but certainly going forward, we’ll space his runs out and he showed a good turn of foot tonight, which indicates that he’s still got some upside to him.

“He performed well on debut and he’s performed well in between other runs. And he’s also run some ordinary races, but those were due to circumstances. But we worked him out and I thought tonight was a good one.”

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