Pao Ma Photography

27/04/2024

I've had an enjoyable week photographing track work this week. The weather has thrown up a few challenges and I've not necessarily seen all the horses I'd like as a result. However, here is a summary of a few I've seen and find interesting runners, spaced out by race. Golden Sixty There has been much talk about his racing future this week, is it possible that will Sunday be his final race track appearance?...

I’ve had an enjoyable week photographing track work this week. The weather has thrown up a few challenges and I’ve not necessarily seen all the horses I’d like as a result. Howeve…

11/12/2023

Some images and a few words about Golden Sixty's amazing win in the Hong Kong Mile.

Sometimes one becomes a little blasé about race course performances, especially when you’re frequently seeing a lot of mediocre Stakes races. But occasionally you see something that’s t…

05/12/2023

I'm adding a couple of days worth here and keeping this brief, with a few horses from Monday and a couple from today. The next few days are likely to be hectic!! Golden Sixty I had good reason to get up early on my first day in Hong Kong as Golden Sixty was having a gallop on the larger dirt track early....

I’m adding a couple of days worth here and keeping this brief, with a few horses from Monday and a couple from today. The next few days are likely to be hectic!! Golden Sixty I had good reaso…

01/05/2023

Romantic Warrior was the highest rated horse here, but had some question marks over him given his defeats by Golden Sixty at his last two. Had he dropped off in form and if he had, could he get back to his best was the commonly asked question last week. He answered that pretty emphatically with a dominant win, looking to be back to his December best....

Romantic Warrior was the highest rated horse here, but had some question marks over him given his defeats by Golden Sixty at his last two. Had he dropped off in form and if he had, could he get bac…

01/05/2023

This race panned out pretty much as expected, with Golden Sixty a dominant winner. He raced a little handier than usual, turning for home sitting on the shoulder of California Spangle and he was able to kick clear easily and won with Vincent throttling down on him near the line....

This race panned out pretty much as expected, with Golden Sixty a dominant winner. He raced a little handier than usual, turning for home sitting on the shoulder of California Spangle and he was ab…

29/04/2023

QEII Cup By far the most open of the three G1's, it would be no surprise if any five off the seven won this, I'll exclude Tourbillon Diamond and Money Catcher. The pace in this is not likely to be overly strong, with Money Catcher the only noted leader, so he will go forward uncontested. Romantic Warrior will be able to sit handy, and from the inside gate Dubai Honour will slide back to his favoured closing position....

QEII Cup By far the most open of the three G1’s, it would be no surprise if any five off the seven won this, I’ll exclude Tourbillon Diamond and Money Catcher. The pace in this is not l…

28/04/2023

I'm going to go back to yesterday to look at the visiting horses who galloped on turf. Today the visitors were all limited to either light work on the dirt track or remained in the quarantine centre, so little to report from that. The locals mainly galloped yesterday and were on light duties this morning. However the feature image is from today, My Oberon looking really well as he enters the course for a canter....

I’m going to go back to yesterday to look at the visiting horses who galloped on turf. Today the visitors were all limited to either light work on the dirt track or remained in the quarantine…

27/04/2023

It was a very busy day at the track, with many of the locals working on the turf, along with several of the visitors. I'll focus on the locals today and carryover the visitors for tomorrow when things will be a bit quieter. Golden Sixty (Medaglia d'Oro 🇺🇸 - Gaudeamus 🇺🇸) The local champion stepped out on the turf under regular rider Vincent Ho, with work partner Cheerful Days, clocking 1m 26.5s (33.3, 30.2, 23.0) over 1200m....

It was a very busy day at the track, with many of the locals working on the turf, along with several of the visitors. I’ll focus on the locals today and carryover the visitors for tomorrow wh…

26/04/2023

Geraldina (Maurice 🇯🇵 - Gentildonna 🇯🇵) This mare didn't look great early in the week, but has improved steadily. Today she looked really well, galloping on the turf, she worked steadily for 1200m on the turf track under G1-winning jockey Taisei Danno, clocking 1m 23.7s (34.1, 27.5, 22.1). Danno said: “The reason why I had a chance to come to Hong Kong this time was because my stable trainer, actually my official boss, is Takashi Saito of Geraldina and my father is a groom of this mare, so Mr....

Geraldina (Maurice 🇯🇵 – Gentildonna 🇯🇵) This mare didn’t look great early in the week, but has improved steadily. Today she looked really well, galloping on the turf, she…

11/09/2017

The second of the photo essay looks at the back stretch at Woodbine Racetrack. It's been a tough few days for these folks and my thoughts are with them

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06/09/2017

North American racing is not usually characterised by quality turf racing; however, Toronto’s Woodbine is an exception - photo journalist Grant Courtney's images of Canada's Woodbine track from the recent Breeders' Stakes meeting - Part One

07/12/2016

No better place to go racing than Happy Valley!