Angus Chung Yik-lai shifted his strong start to the season up a gear at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, banking his first Hong Kong treble to move into outright third in the jockeys’ premiership.
There were a trio of favourites among apprentice jockey Chung’s full book of nine rides, and he made no mistake on Majestic Knight ($2.6) in the Class Three Cheong Wan Handicap (1,000m) and Righteous Arion ($2.65) in the third section of the Class Four Hing Wah Handicap (1,200m).
Nestled in between was Chung’s victory aboard $14 chance Zoom Boom in the Class Four Chinese General Chamber Of Commerce Cup (1,200m).
“It’s great, some good bookings. The horses did well, and we had good barriers,” Chung said. “I’d had a double here before and also at Sha Tin, but never a treble, so it’s great.”
While Chung completed his treble aboard Tony Cruz’s Righteous Arion, it was Douglas Whyte who provided the 27-year-old with his first two winners.
“He’s come a long way, he’s really riding well and he’s riding with confidence,” Whyte said of Chung. “He’s making a difference, and when you’ve got seven pounds off, it’s a huge benefit.”
Whyte bagged a treble of his own – his first since April last year – thanks to The Good Deal’s success under Luke Ferraris and Chung’s victories with Majestic Knight and Zoom Boom.
Whyte looked particularly satisfied after Zoom Boom’s maiden Hong Kong success, which came on his second start back following 20 months out with a tendon injury.
“He’s had a tendon injury, and he’s been off the track for a long time,” Whyte said. “I’ve just got to say thank you to [owner] Robert Ng [Chee-siong]. He’s been very patient.
“A year off the track, and I’ve always said, ‘Just give me time’. I’ve believed in this horse. He’s shown me he’s had ability before he had the injury, and it’s just nice to be able to get him back.”
Ninth at $90 on his return in Class Three company at Sha Tin on October 15, Zoom Boom was kept safe by punters as he dropped in grade.
“With the amount of time I gave him and the preparation I gave him, I expected him to run very well first up, and he did,” Whyte said.
“Bringing him back in distance and giving him the seven pounds off dropping in class with a good gate – that was the difference.”
A wayward Zoom Boom ensured a few nervous moments for Whyte late in proceedings, laying in badly close to home before holding out the fast-finishing Sight Hero by a nose.
“Going past the line, I thought he got beat. He came to win the race, and he shied in, but he’s a bit like that – he’s only had a handful of runs,” Whyte said.
Elsewhere on the night, Karis Teetan landed a double with wins aboard Fortune Triple and Wood On Fire, while Me Tsui Yu-sak snared a brace of his own thanks to Teetan’s effort atop Fortune Triple and the later victory of Fortune President.
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