Resilience in the face of adversity is a requisite quality for success in Hong Kong and Keith Yeung is a shining example of what can be achieved with a positive attitude.
Keith had his first ride in Hong Kong in September, 2008 for Almond Lee and, after a promising start to his career, became Hong Kong champion apprentice in 2009/10. Since then, Keith has endured plenty of injury setbacks, but his infectious enthusiasm has never waned.
Last Saturday (11 May), Keith was rewarded with his 300th win in Hong Kong after notching a double with MASTER OF ALL for Chris So and AWESOME TREASURE for David Hayes and was typically generous in his gratitude towards owners, trainers, fellow jockeys and the Club for their support throughout his career.
At 36, Keith is riding in good form, so much so that at Sha Tin last weekend he won the Jockey Challenge with 24 points from only three rides, and his ability to ride at 115lb is testament to his discipline.
Keith now has 14 wins for the season – the most he has accumulated in a single campaign since 2018/19 – and I wish him all the best for continued good health and success.
Monitoring the progress of Hong Kong’s four-year-old crop each season is always a fascinating exercise and it was encouraging to see CHANCHENG GLORY win the Class 2 Hong Kong China Rugby Cup Handicap (1600m) for Francis Lui and Vincent Ho on Saturday.
CHANCHENG GLORY performed solidly in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, finishing a short-head second in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) to HELIOS EXPRESS before running sixth in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind MASSIVE SOVEREIGN.
With six wins in Hong Kong from only 14 starts, CHANCHENG GLORY is shaping promisingly and, as well as earning HK$1,747,200 in prize money on Saturday, he also collected a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million.
Having earned HK$9.9 million in prizemoney and bonuses this season alone, CHANCHENG GLORY is not only the first horse to win a race since competing in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, but he illustrates the tremendous rewards available through the Club’s prizemoney and incentive structure which is designed to enhance returns on investments for owners.
So far this season, the Club has distributed HK$70 million in bonuses – HK$66 million in PP Bonuses, HK$3 million in PPG Bonuses and HK$1 million in an International Sale Griffin Bonus – to the owners of 43 individual horses.
At the corresponding time last season, the Club had distributed HK$61 million in bonuses.
Our 2023/24 four-year-old class, which is topped by G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) winner INVINCIBLE SAGE with a rating of 118, also features four other upcoming talents with ratings of 100 or higher – MASSIVE SOVEREIGN (107), HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE (106), GALAXY PATCH (106) and HELIOS EXPRESS (102).
I am optimistic that this group, along with others, can excel at the highest level over the coming seasons to maintain Hong Kong’s world-class racing.
At Happy Valley tonight, we continue our Happy French Wednesday theme in collaboration with the French May Arts Festival and the French GourMay Food and Wine Festival.
Celebrating French art and culture, Happy Valley’s world-famous Beer Garden is transformed with a touch of Paris, allowing our patrons to sample wonderful French food and wines, music and dancing while enjoying world-class horse racing.
The Class 3 Seine Handicap is carded as Race 9 and run over 1200m at 10.50pm for prizemoney of HK$1,860,000.
The pace will be good with CALIFORNIA TOUCH expected to lead from barrier one for Matthew Chadwick. COPARTNER PRANCE is likely to push forward from gate seven under Zac Purton along with SUPER WINNER, ensuring a solid tempo. HEALTHY HEALTHY is at risk of being caught wide from barrier nine for Alexis Badel, while HAPPY TRIO (Ben Thompson) and NEVER TOO SOON (Keagan De Melo) are likely to settle towards the rear of the field.
COPARTNER PRANCE is chasing his fourth successive win over this course and distance for Francis Lui, having won twice in Class 4 before posting another impressive win when rising to Class 3 on 1 May. COPARTNER PRANCE carries 132lb tonight, but he is my first choice for a win and place.
OUR LUCKY GLORY is in good form with a pair of Happy Valley 1200m wins in Class 4. He returns to Class 3 tonight and carries only 119lb for Andrea Atzeni. From barrier five, he should be able to settle in midfield and he is a place chance.
CALIFORNIA TOUCH won over this course and distance on 17 April, leading throughout from his inside gate. He is drawn well again here and he is a place chance. WINNING ICEY drops from Class 2 and will carry 128lb under Ellis Wong. All four of WINNING ICEY’S wins have come at Happy Valley and he is also a place chance.
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