Dennis Yip struck early in the new Hong Kong season with a headline-making victory on National Day, sending out Fast Network (125lb) to capture the HK$4.2 million Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Wednesday (1 October). With Alexis Badel in the irons, the five-year-old son of Wrote swept to the lead in the final 200 meters and never looked back, giving Yip his first win of the 2025/26 campaign.

For Badel, the success marked a third National Day Cup triumph and back-to-back wins in the race, having partnered Beauty Waves last year. This time, however, he was determined to secure the ride on Fast Network.

“I knew he’d be a very strong contender, so I chased the ride,” Badel explained. “I probably hit the front a touch early because of the draw, but he still had plenty left. It was a brilliant effort, and I’m very happy to deliver for the stable.”

Yip, who has overseen the gelding’s steady development, praised both jockey and horse. “He’s a late finisher, so I told Alexis not to push him too much early. Just let him relax and he’ll do his work in the final 300 meters,” he said. With his form improving since a strong run in the Class 2 Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1400m), Yip already has bigger goals in sight: “At the end of the month, there’s the Group 2 Premier Bowl (1200m). That’s the target.”

While Fast Network stole the spotlight, Zac Purton made sure his presence was felt with a treble that lifted him to 13 wins for the season. He opened his account with a long-awaited breakthrough for six-year-old Ragnarr (130lb) in the Class 5 Nanning Handicap (1200m). Winless in 24 previous starts, the David Hall trainee finally broke through with a well-timed finish, rewarding the stable’s persistence.

Purton was also on hand to guide Oriental Smoke (135lb) to victory in the Class 5 Jinan Handicap (1800m), giving Hayes a sentimental moment with one of his old warriors. The seven-time winner, who has done all his winning under Purton, may have been seen for the last time. “He’s been a great servant,” Hayes said. “If he’s pulled up sore, we might retire him—it would be a perfect way for him to bow out.”

The reigning champion jockey completed his treble with Invincible Ibis (132lb), who unleashed a searing late burst to capture the Class 4 Chengdu Handicap (1400m). Trainer Mark Newnham admitted the wide draw had worried him, but the gelding’s trademark turn of foot proved decisive.

Elsewhere, veteran campaigners provided storylines of their own. Healthy Happy (131lb), a nine-year-old and winner of the 2021 Hong Kong Classic Cup, rolled back the years with a shock success in the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1400m) at 21/1 for Frankie Lor and apprentice Jerry Chau.

Manfred Man enjoyed a double courtesy of Tsuen Wan Glory (123lb) in the Class 5 Shenyang Handicap (1400m) under Britney Wong, followed by Aurora Patch (131lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap (1200m) with Hugh Bowman aboard.

Andrea Atzeni teamed up with Chris So to win the first division of that same race with Sunny Q (118lb), who produced a late surge to deny Keagan De Melo aboard favorite Do Your Part (134lb). Atzeni then doubled up when Argentine Group 1 winner Kempes (117lb) snatched the Class 3 Shanghai Handicap (1200m) for David Hall in a thrilling finish.

The card closed with another nail-biter as Newnham-trained Max Que (117lb) edged Silvery Breeze (126lb) by a short head in the Class 3 Tianjin Handicap (1400m), sealing a double for the Australian handler on a day when both established stars and seasoned veterans had their moment to shine.