Believed to be the first syndicate ever registered with the Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate has its sights on the pinnacle of ownership in the city in this Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).
Fresh off victory in the Classic Cup (1,800m), the syndicate’s finest-ever find, Rubylot, enters the Derby as favourite for trainer David Hayes and jockey Brenton Avdulla.
“We’ve been racing horses now for 40 years and this is by far the best we’ve ever had. I’ve been in the syndicate for 30 years myself and we’ve some good horses over the years, but this one is a bit special,” said Philip Nunn, the syndicate’s treasurer and manager.
“We’ve had some good horses but a lot of it is luck. We’re not big spenders but David Hayes has been very good for us. He sources our horses for us and he’s reliable.
Rubylot mows them down in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin! My Wish is brave in defeat as @brentonavdulla and David Hayes combine for victory... 🏆#4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/5YiJeHY1Ub
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025
“I think that’s the important thing – you have to have someone you can trust to get the right horses for you. We’re really thankful to David for choosing Rubylot for us.”
Currently featuring 12 members, the syndicate has had a string of horses over the years, most with “lot” in their names.
“Anyone can join but we’re generally Football Club members and Jockey Club members,” said Nunn.
“I think I’m right in saying we were the very first syndicate to be registered by the Jockey Club.
“We just have lots of fun. It’s a good social group. We never expected to have a horse quite so good as Rubylot.
The Hong Kong Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate enjoys Rubylot’s Classic Cup success.
“In the old days you used to draw out a horse. You didn’t buy your own horse, you entered into a ballot and then you drew out a number and you got that horse.
“The very first horse we ever had was called My Lot and he won several races. He was a really good horse, so we thought ‘lot’ was a good name for all our horses.
“We always try to link the ‘lot’ with the name of the sire or the dam. That’s been our tradition over the years.”
With six wins from 18 starts, including three victories this season, the group’s dashing son of Rubick enters the Derby as the only galloper with a triple-figure rating on a mark of 100.
A victory from Rubylot would mark a second Derby success for Hayes, who prevailed in 2003 with Elegant Fashion, and a first for Avdulla.
Rubylot gallops on the all-weather track at Sha Tin this week.
“He begins, switches off and he’s got a change-up speed, so he’s got three brilliant things going for him,” Avdulla said of Rubylot.
“It will be interesting to see how he handles the 2,000m. I think he will.
“He’s a lovely moving horse and the way he finished in the Classic Cup should hold him in good stead for the 2,000m.”
As Avdulla carefully positions Rubylot out of gate four from the tricky Sha Tin 2,000m start, those in the Hong Kong Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate will be watching intently from the box of Jockey Club steward Nicholas Hunsworth.
“He’s one of the syndicate’s main players so we’ll be in his box, fortunately,” said Nunn, who did his bit for the cause by revealing barrier four at Thursday’s draw – a gate Hayes described as perfect.
