Chadwick finding it ‘tough, if not tougher’ despite Tony Cruz Award win

He’s coming off his best season in a decade and was last season’s leading local jockey, but Matthew Chadwick says so far that success is not translating into more opportunity in 2022-23.

Chadwick took out the Tony Cruz Award as leading local rider with 55 winners last term, a haul behind only the 57 he managed in 2012-13, but is finding it hard to garner support in the early stages of this campaign.

“You would have liked to have thought winning that award would have given me a bit more support this season, but it seems as tough, if not tougher,” the 32-year-old said.

“The dynamics of it has changed again this season, certain stables are seeming to pick their preference of rider and it’s harder for me because I don’t rely on one or two stables.

“Hopefully, I get a few more chances sooner rather than later because the quality isn’t there yet.”

While Blake Shinn has departed Hong Kong, Silvestre de Sousa has returned and 10-pound claimer Angus Chung Yik-lai has also been added to the jockeys’ roster for this season.

Chadwick was absent from the first meeting of the term after partnering Computer Patch and Kings Shield in feature races in Korea at the start of the month, admitting “missing the start of the season probably hasn’t helped”.

On the flip side, however, the time away has set up Chadwick nicely ahead of another long season.

“It was nice break, I took the family and the kids enjoyed getting out of Hong Kong. We went to a couple of theme parks, an aquarium, the food was nice and the club was very helpful. All bar the results it was a very good experience,” he said.

Chadwick managed two placings aboard gallopers at double-figure odds from his four rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday and knows he’ll have to extract the absolute best out of his mounts at Sha Tin on Sunday if he is to head home a winner.

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Among his six rides is the Michael Chang Chun-wai-trained Sea Monarch, who chases a second win from three starts in the Class Five Cheong Wan Handicap (1,400m).

“He’s one of the horses I’m looking forward to riding – Michael has got him going well,” Chadwick said.

“Gate nine is a bit of a query, but his form is good and the stable is ticking along nicely. He seems healthy and he tries, which is a good thing in Class Five.”

Chadwick retains the ride aboard last-start Happy Valley winner Classic Unicorn, who is unlikely to get things all his own way in front this time in the Class Two Fife Handicap (1,000m).

“He’s coming into it fresh and time will tell how much pressure they give us, so it’s hard to put all the ticks against his name. There’s a bit of a question regarding the other runners as well, so we’ll have to wait and see,” the jockey said.

Chadwick also climbs aboard Miracles, Lady First, Tailor Made and Forever Glorious.

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