Van Niekerk’s Harmony
Harmony Victory charged late down centre-track to win the day’s feature, the Class 1 Sha Tin Mile Trophy Handicap (1600m), in Hong Kong’s 2018/19 season finale at Sha Tin yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 14 July).
The win rewarded jockey Grant van Niekerk’s decision to defer a suspension, which left him free for today’s final meeting.
“I knew I had better rides today and he was one of them. I’m just glad I could end the season off well,” he said.
“If I took my suspension immediately I’d have missed out on my good rides today. I was also hoping to end the season well, to be fresh in the trainers’ minds for next season.”
The Brazilian Group 1 winner ran with credit in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series for trainer Danny Shum earlier this year and Van Niekerk expects the bay to mature into a Group race performer next term.
“Yes, for sure, he should reach that level,” he said. “He’s a nice horse and he’ll be better next season.