Angus Chung Yik-lai admitted he had forgotten what it felt like to win at Happy Valley as the apprentice jockey celebrated riding Atomic Energy to victory at the city circuit for his boss, Tony Cruz, on Wednesday night.
The least experienced rider on this season’s Jockey Club roster, Chung had his claim reduced from 10 pounds to seven after his 20th career win on Sunday, but only one of them had occurred at Happy Valley.
That happened way back on November 16 when Chung, on what was just his third Happy Valley outing, rode Cruz-trained Circuit Elite to victory over 1,800m.
Neither Cruz, who is Chung’s staunchest supporter, nor the betting public, whose financial backing led to Atomic Energy being the Class Four Elgin Handicap (1,000m) second favourite, had given up on the jockey in spite of his 80 consecutive Happy Valley losses.
Chung rewarded them for their loyalty, easing Atomic Energy out of the early speed battle that really hurt the chances of $2.4 favourite Kowloon East Star – he finished last – before driving him to the front 25m from the line and urging him to fend off Momentum Galaxy.
“My last winner here was four months ago, so I just can’t remember the feeling of winning here at Happy Valley,” said a relieved Chung, whose 21 victories in his rookie season have come from 266 starts.
“[Atomic Energy] is still green. He was sharp, but he needs more experience. He didn’t handle the tight track, but he showed ability to hit the line.”
Another jockey who snapped a long run of outs during the meeting was Dylan Mo Hin-tung, who won for the first time in 46 rides when My Intelligent made all in the Class Four Old Bailey Handicap (1,200m).
“He needs support and I’m happy to support him. Even though Karis rode this horse in a trial, I wanted to use Dylan. He’s got a two-pound claim and he rides well,” said My Intelligent’s trainer, Peter Ho Leung, of Mo, who has two wins from 94 starts this term.
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“It’s good to get another win for the stable. I’m still struggling, but it’s good,” added Ho, who is one of the championship backmarkers on 12 victories.
Elsewhere on the Happy Valley card, Karis Teetan and Jamie Richards registered doubles, while Savaquin won the programme’s Class Two contest, the Arbuthnot Handicap (1,650m), for Hugh Bowman and John Size.
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