During the Community Day races last Sunday the Club officially announced the launch of CLAP for Youth @ JC, our HK$500 million five-year career and life adventure planning programme aimed at local youths, which also represents part of the Club’s efforts and special focus on youth development in the coming three to five years.
Commencing in September this year, the programme will support five network schools and five NGOs, who will be piloting career and life planning services and counselling to students, as well as reaching out to non-engaged school leavers. In view of encouraging response, service will be expanded to reach 100 affiliated schools, and we aim to support 50 network schools in five years’ time, so as to benefit 200,000 young people in total, and help them embark on their future careers and life paths with informed choices, greater confidence and hope.
I was delighted to hear two outstanding Hong Kong sportsmen, canoeing athlete Angel Ho and windsurfing athlete Cheung Kwok Fai, who shared their very own experiences in career and life planning. Kwok-fai gave me a deep impression as he told the guests on Sunday that as of family problems he had once been involved in some wrongdoings in his youth. He later had the chance to take part in windsurfing and was motivated by his participation in the sport, which helped steer him back to the right track. Kwok-fai not only became an elite sportsman, he also won a gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon last year.
Similarly in racing, our jockeys come from many different backgrounds, and the paths they have taken to reach the pinnacle of the sport largely vary. Our leading jockey Joao Moreira is an interesting and inspiring example. I believe some of you might know that he came from a poor family in Brazil. He has mentioned a number of times that he left his home as a teenager and went to Sao Paulo, the country’s largest city, some 200 kilometres away from his home, to receive jockey training.
Having endured a tough time at the start, with unsatisfactory results putting him at risk of his jockey license not being extended, Joao strived to improve as a young jockey and was not shy to ask for rides. He was eventually given the chance to shine and he took it. He worked hard, he learned and he improved. He has developed to such an extent that he is currently one of the best jockeys in the world.
Both Joao and Kwok-fai’s stories show us all that youngsters should always have their dreams, and they should be encouraged to pursue their life targets. I firmly believe that should anyone have a strong determination and then put that determination into action they will always have the chance to succeed.
Joao will be seeking for a top-class win in both the APQEII Cup with Designs On Rome this Sunday, as well as with Able Friend in the Champions Mile next weekend. Before then, he will be chasing another significant personal achievement, as he’s just one win away from riding his century of winners in Hong Kong this season, as well as his 200th career win in Hong Kong. I know many racing fans will be interested to see if Joao can make it happen this evening upon his return from suspension. Tonight will also be the second of our Digital Nights at Happy Wednesday themed meeting, so it’s well worth coming along to offer your support to Joao and enjoy the digitally-themed racetrack activities.
Tonight’s seventh race is the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union Cup, a Class 3 event at 1650 metres, featuring a field of 11 runners with the late withdrawal of Goodheart Success. The pace will be established by Horse Aplenty and Golden Addiction.
This has been a turnaround season for Expectator, a horse that took 21 races to earn his first win and his since been a different horse. Expectator has now won three of his last four races this season whilst climbing 23 points in his rating during that span. It has been two months since his last race but he is working well and has drawn the inside barrier. I expect to see him relatively close to the leaders in what should be a modest pace and make him a win and place chance to continue with his good form.
Chater Legend is a place chance making his first start at Happy Valley after some promising efforts at Sha Tin. He has finished with interest in his recent runs and looks like he will appreciate the step up in trip. Little Dragon is another place chance, having just missed over this same course and distance last week. He has drawn outside tonight and may be taken back in the run to avoid being trapped wide.Medallist, a first-up winner at Happy Valley this season in late October, returns to the races after a bleeding incident in a December barrier trial. He will be well placed in the run and is a place chance from his good draw.
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