OWNER’S WIFE ENSURED WONG GOT HOSTWIN KING TO TRAIN

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TOMMY Wong will have his owner’s wife to thank if Hostwin King gives him a stakes breakthrough at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Hawkesbury trainer puts the colt’s unbeaten record on the line in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at his first start as a three-year-old after two victories as a two-year-old in the season recently completed.

Hostwin King won a 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m) at Kembla Grange on June 20 on debut before stepping up to midweek city company and again defeating his own age over 1200m at Canterbury on July 8.

Hostwin King at $210,000 at the 2025 Inglis Classic sale was the highest-priced yearling colt of his sire King’s Legacy sold last year.

He was purchased by Hong Kong owner Jason Tam – but very nearly didn’t go home with Wong.

The Hawkesbury trainer today told the story of how Hostwin King came to join his stable, and not someone else’s.

“Jason and his wife were on holidays in Sydney at the time of the Classic sale,” Wong explained.

“We liked the colt obviously but stopped bidding at $190,000.

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“Someone else put in another bid, and he looked like being sold until Mrs Tam put up her hand and bought him.

“I’ve known Jason for a long time, but this is the first horse I have trained for him.”

Hong Kong native Wong, whose first Australian runner runner was at Port Macquarie in October 2000 and his breakthrough winner was Amza King at Hawkesbury in May 2003, clinched his first city winner with Hostwin King at Canterbury since Desi Emperor won at the same meeting 12 months earlier.

He is understandably looking forward to the opportunity to win a stakes race on Saturday, but also realises the Rosebud will be a much sterner test.

“Hostwin King isn’t a big colt; he is only 15.3 hands,” Wong said.

“He has done well since the Canterbury win, and won a Warwick Farm trial (792m) on August 4 (when he narrowly defeated a city winner Satin Summer and fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s talented colt Tenenbaum).

“Hostwin King is up against some other three-year-olds who won Group races as a two-year-olds, but at least he has drawn well in a capacity field.”

Wong’s young sprinter has been at double figure odds in both his wins ($11 and $12), and is at even bigger odds (currently $34 with TAB.com.au) for Saturday’s assignment.

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With Louis Beuzelin, who has ridden Hostwin King in both his wins and all three trials, sidelined through suspension, Wong has booked Newcastle’s Ash Morgan for the Rosebud.

And he isn’t concerned that Morgan will ride the colt sight unseen.

“It won’t be a problem at all,” Wong said.

“Hostwin King has a great temperament, and is an easy horse to ride.”

Hostwin King is one of four provincial three-year-olds lining up in the Rosebud.

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan resumes his promising filly Queen Regent (Jay Ford), who won the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at $151 at the Scone carnival in May at only her second start.

And leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees resumes his pair of winners, Under Focus (Dylan Gibbons) and She’s Extra (Tyler Schiller).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 13, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS