In keeping with his understated manner, Matthew Chadwick quietly posted his 300th Sha Tin winner last Saturday, making little of the milestone as he edged closer to joining one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive clubs.
With 497 wins to his credit, Matthew is poised to become only the third home-grown jockey to reach 500 Hong Kong wins after Tony Cruz (946) and Vincent Ho (519) in a career crammed with resilience and determination.
At 32, Matthew is one of Hong Kong’s most accomplished riders, having become the city’s first home-grown rider to win a Hong Kong International Races Group 1 with California Memory’s 2011 Hong Kong Cup victory
Matthew’s achievements also include winning the 2008/09 champion apprentice, 2012 Shergar Cup Silver Saddle success and last season clinching the Tony Cruz Award with a brilliant campaign capped by 55 wins.
Injury has regularly slowed Matthew’s momentum and this season has been no different. However, his unrelenting desire to overcome setbacks have seen him forge into the top six of the 2022/23 Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 36 wins.
Based on his current form and capacity to ride at 115lb, Matthew is well placed to continue his progression as a quality rider.
On the subject of milestones, five-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton is on the cusp of riding his 600th winner at Happy Valley tonight as he bids to extend his record for the most wins by a jockey at the city circuit.
After three successive Sha Tin meetings, our focus returns to Happy Valley where we will continue a Happy French Wednesday theme in the Beer Garden in partnership with the French May Arts Festival and French GourMay Food and Wine Festival.
Our customers can immerse themselves all things French as we transform the Beer Garden with the tastes and sounds of Paris. Along with an extensive range of French culinary delights and wines, there will also be street artists, mimes, jugglers and other performers in an echo of the French capital.
One of the highlights of this season has been the reopening of the world-famous Beer Garden after COVID-19 and it has quickly become a popular Happy Wednesday experience for many of our customers.
On the race track, the Victoria Harbour Handicap is carded as Race 8 for Class 2 horses over 1200m at 10.15pm with prizemoney of HK$2,640,000.
The pace in the race will be strong with Harmony And Rich who has drawn the rails as a natural leader, as is Whizz Kid in drawn gate five. Those two should ensure a fast early pace with Packing Treadmill, Atomic Force and Adios also going forward from their respective draws to take up positions near the speed.
The fast pace should set the race up perfectly for Howdeepisyourlove. The three-year-old has built up an imposing record in his first season of racing and was runner-up to emerging sprinter Victor The Winner at Sha Tin on 15 April.
Howdeepisyourlove came back to Happy Valley on 26 April when he settled midfield and finished strongly along the rails to beat Rock Ya Heart and Atomic Force. Karis Teetan takes the ride again for leading trainer John Size and should have him in a striking position from gate six. He is my win and place selection.
Eason ran over the top of Allgreektome at this course and distance 22 March and then ran home strongly when fourth to Howdeepisfourlove on 26 April, beaten under two lengths. Eason will have benefitted from some time at Conghua since then and is a place chance.
Packing Treadmill was caught wide from an outside gate and stayed on well before fading in the last 100m when sixth to Red Lion over 1400m at Sha Tin at this last run. Packing Treadmill comes to Happy Valley to race for the first time here but is very talented and is a place chance with Hugh Bowman taking the ride.
Majestic Star is an interesting runner returning to racing after having bled at his last run on 4 December and spending extended time at Conghua since then. His previous run was good and he has won twice at the course and distance and is a place chance.
There are a number of other runners in the race who are effective at Happy Valley and while expectations will be for a Howdeepisyourlove victory there is plenty of depth that makes it a very interesting race.
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