Caspar Fownes drew two wins clear at the top of the trainers’ championship after slotting a valuable double with Papaya Brose and Family Jewel at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Tied with Danny Shum Chap-shing at the top of the table but leading by virtue of seconds heading into Sunday’s meeting, Fownes moved clear when he teamed up with Brazilian superstar Joao Moreira to notch a timely brace.

Papaya Brose scored his second win at start four, taking out the Class Four Federation of Associations of Native Hing Ning Residents in Hong Kong Cup (1,200m) narrowly.

Travelling smoothly in the box seat, the $2.55 favourite was taken off the fence early in the straight and made his move between rivals to pounce on the lead at the 50m.

The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Radiance stormed home from well back to challenge, but it was Papaya Brose who prevailed by a short head. Happy Brethren and Tin Fook were close behind in the tight finish.

“It was a very nice ride and he’s a young horse, carrying 135lb when you’re a three-year-old, even though it’s Class Four it’s very tough in Hong Kong when you’re against older horses. So, it was a very close finish and I’m very happy I put my head in front of Mr Hayes,” Fownes said of Papaya Brose.

“He’s a young horse, he’s versatile, he can go longer but we’re just letting him develop further and he might have one more race before the end of the season.”

Papaya Brose added Sunday’s win to his barnstorming debut triumph in February and a third and fourth.

Family Jewel was lifted late by Moreira to bag a thrilling win in the Class Three General Association Of Hong Kong Heyuan Societies Cup (1,600m), prevailing in a close three-way finish.

Settling midfield on the fence, the Time Test gelding responded when Endued swept past him to take the lead to fight back and beat that galloper by a head, with Complete Unknown half a length away in third.

Trio of debutants strike

Three debutants made their mark on Sunday’s Sha Tin card with exciting victories, including Joyful Joy who caused a massive upset at $54.6 in the Class Four Federation Of Qing Yuan Associations Cup (1,400m).

Trainer Mark Newnham admitted he was “a little surprised” after Joyful Joy, who showed mixed form in his trials, exploded near the inside to bolt in by a length and a half under James Orman.

“His trial at Happy Valley against two Class Three horses that both came out and ran very well in Class Three was good,” Newnham said.

“His next trial here on the all-weather, I just don’t think he ran well on that surface but I’ve been very happy with him all the way through and since we put the blinkers on him, he improved a lot.

“So, it did give me some confidence coming here today.”

Ka Ying Lightning was another double-figure debutant to score, defying his $14.65 quote to storm home to victory in the Class Four Hong Kong Mei Zhou Association Cup (1,000m).

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Ka Ying Lightning made a sustained run one off the outside rail to grab fellow debutant and pacesetter Double Alpha late, winning by half a length.

“He’s always shown good ability from day one,” trainer David Hall said.

“He’s had quite a few trials but hasn’t put it all together – he’s either missed the start or over-raced. We were hoping he would run really well today, but a lot depended on how he jumped.

“He was in a much better rhythm than in the trials and that enabled him to finish off the race. So it wasn’t a surprise that he’s got the ability to win the race, but it’s always hard to get it all right on the first day.”

Atzeni went on to clinch a double after also booting home Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Aeroinvincible in the Class Three Hakka Cup (1,400m).

Rising World was the first of the three debutants to win when he scrambled home in the opening Hong Kong Wu Hua General Association Cup (1,200m) for jockey Zac Purton and trainer Brett Crawford.

“I thought the horse did a great job. First time at the races, never easy from gate 10. I think he gave him a very good ride and I think he’s a horse that will go forward from here,” Crawford said of the Nicconi two-year-old.

“He trialled exceptionally well last week in really tough conditions, we were just a bit disappointed with the gate.”

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