The development of homegrown talent is an abiding imperative for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and it has increasingly played an integral role in the success of our world-class racing.
The priority to provide attractive career paths not only applies to jockeys and trainers but to aspiring youngsters in a variety of racing-related fields, from veterinary to integrity, stable care, transportation, hospitality and many other areas.
Horse racing is the city’s most popular sport and our participants – both homegrown and expatriate – operate in one of the world’s competitive racing jurisdictions where performance is forensically scrutinised and sustained success is beyond all but the most committed.
Since the advent of professional racing in Hong Kong, only three jockeys had managed to ride 500 winners or more in Hong Kong – Tony Cruz (946), Vincent Ho (612) and Matthew Chadwick (569) – until Wednesday night (8 October).
Derek Leung, who is very much one of quiet achievers, joined this select group at Happy Valley when Regal Gem gave Derek his 500th winner.
When one considers the quality of the current jockey roster, which features Group 1-winning riders from all over the world, Derek’s accomplishment is extremely significant and one he should be especially proud of.
He is a credit to the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School with his professionalism and modest demeanour and I heartily congratulate him for his achievement.
It was fitting that on the very night Derek joined this elite group that its original member – Tony Cruz – would provide Angus Chung with his 100th Hong Kong victory as a jockey.
Tony enjoyed a treble at Happy Valley and his elation on helping his protege, Angus, reach an important milestone with victory on Parents’ Love was clear.
As a member of the Club’s Apprentice Jockey’ School’s first intake in 1972, Tony continues to make a huge contribution to Hong Kong racing as a six-time champion jockey and dual champion trainer.
Angus is among a talented cohort of homegrown riders including Vincent, Matthew, Derek, Matthew Poon, Jerry Chau, Ellis Wong, Britney Wong, Keith Yeung and Dylan Mo who regularly vie against the best from around the world and are doing so with telling success.
Australia’s spring carnival continues to build momentum, and our focus today (Saturday, 11 October) is on Caulfield Racecourse in Australia, where the first of seven races from Might And Power Day will be simulcast from 11am.
The G1 Caulfield Guineas is carded as S1-5 and run over 1600m at 1.30pm and is highly regarded from a breeding viewpoint in Australasia.
The pace will be good with WEST OF SWINDON (Ben Melham) likely to lead from ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (Daniel Stackhouse) and OBSERVER (Ethan Brown).
WODETON is one of Australia’s most valuable colts, being by WOOTTON BASSETT, and is now at peak fitness for Chris Waller and ran second to BEIWACHT last start. He drawn awkwardly in gate 10 but is a win and place chance.
Stablemate AUTUMN BOY (Damian Lane) is one of several chances along with NAVY PILOT (Jamie Melham), VINROCK (Mark Zahra), NEPOTISM (Blake Shinn), PLANET RED (Jordan Childs) and WEST OF SWINDON.
Tonight, our attention turns to Dewhurst Stakes Day from Newmarket Racecourse in Great Britain, where the first of five races will be simulcast from 8.15pm.
The G1 Dewhurst Stakes is carded as S2-4 and run over 1400m at 10pm.
DISTANT STORM (William Buick) was a dominant course and distance winner last start, and the NIGHT OF THUNDER colt is a win and place selection.
GSTAAD (Christophe Soumillon) was a spectacular winner at Royal Ascot and gets his opportunity to return to the winners’ stall here for Aidan O’Brien, while ZAVATERI (Charles Bishop), a colt by WITHOUT PAROLE, remains undefeated in four starts after narrowly toppling GSTAAD last start and is again the hardest to beat.
OXAGON (Oisin Murphy), ITALY (Wayne Lordan) and ALPARSLAN (Clifford Lee) also have claims.
At Sha Tin on Sunday (12 October), the Class 2 Shing Mun Handicap is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1200m at 5.10pm for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The speed will be good with LADY’S CHOICE (Derek Leung) the likely leader with BABY CRYSTAL (Keagan de Melo) also going forward from gate ten. WONDER KIT (Britney Wong) will be prominent from his rails draw with DANCING CODE (Ellis Wong) and TOMODACHI KOKOROE (Harry Bentley) close to the speed.
LADY’S CHOICE won four races over this course and distance last season and has a good record when resuming. He has had two trials in preparation for his return and, from gate four, is a win and place chance.
DANCING CODE was no match for TOMODACHI KOKOROE over this course and distance on 28 September but with Ellis’ 5lb claim, he is again a place chance.
TOMODACHI KOKORE was brilliant when comfortably beating DANCING CODE on 28 September, with a big break back to MID WINTER WIND (Lyle Hewitson) in third place. TOMODACHI KOKOROE ran very fast time in winning, posting a new class record. He goes up 10lb in weight from that run and has drawn wide but is a place chance.
MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE (Zac Purton) won four times over this course and distance in an excellent debut season that also produced four minor placings. His racing pattern is to come from off the pace. He should get a cozy run from gate three and is a place chance.
This is an open race with several chances, including SKY TRUST (David Probert), who steps up in class but is a place chance.
Comment
