Jockey Lyle Hewitson made it into the winner’s enclosure for the first time since December 5 when Valiant Elegance made all the running to land the second section of the Class Four Chatham Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Hewitson, 24, had seen his momentum stopped after fracturing his pelvis in a fall in the Hong Kong Sprint in December and had been on a frustrating run since returning to the saddle in mid-January.
Going into this meeting, the young South African had been performing well without success since resuming, riding six seconds and 10 thirds, and was delighted to pick up a winner courtesy of a fantastic front-running ride on Valiant Elegance.
“It’s great to get that win after my injury,” Hewitson said. “I’ve been predominantly riding pretty well in general and getting good results from my horses and I just needed a touch more luck than we’ve been getting to turn those seconds and close thirds into winners.
“Unlucky is a word you don’t want to use in Hong Kong. I’ve stayed very optimistic, very positive and I think that’s how you’ve got to be here. I know that I’m capable of doing very well in Hong Kong and I had a big mountain to climb from last season.
“I was here before and I had a lot of odds stacked against me and I think I’m just starting to prove myself to owners and trainers, so hopefully I can end this season well and start the next one in favour.”
Jockey Keith Yeung Ming-lun is another rider without much to celebrate in the last couple of months but he ended a spell of 103 rides without a winner when saluting aboard Red Majesty in the second section of the Class Three Bulkeley Handicap (1,650m).
Yeung was impressive on the fast-improving five-year-old, judging the fractions right from the front on the David Hayes-trained runner, and was delighted to end his barren spell.
“It’s been a long time since the last winner I had and the last winner I had for David Hayes,” Yeung said.
“It was a tight finish, he was a little bit tired at the end but I had an easy run. We led without pressure, which makes it easier for him and he’s a horse who needs to keep the pace going.”
Hayes was not on track to witness his 26th winner of the season as he has recently tested positive for Covid-19.
‘It’s a hard pill to swallow’: Hewitson remains determined to succeed
Zac Purton ended the meeting with a lead of four over Joao Moreira in the jockeys’ championship after beating the Magic Man 3-2 on the night.
Happy Valley has been the scene of many a Purton winner over the past month and the Aussie gun struck first on Dragon Pride, who picked up his third win of the season when running out an impressive winner of the Class Five Wuhu Handicap (1,650m).
The five-year-old joined trainer Benno Yung Tin-pang before the start of the season after passing through the hands of Tony Millard and Hayes in his first two seasons in Hong Kong and Yung has solved his physical problems.
“He had a bad back, knee and fetlock and before he came to my stable, the plan was to retire him but thankfully I was allowed time to fix him and get him back in condition,” Yung said.
Yung completed a double when Moreira steered home Happy Jai Jai, with the galloper completing a hat-trick in the Class Four Gillies Handicap (1,650m)
Punters would have been in clover by following Purton this season and heading into this meeting, you would have been $62.50 in front if placing $10 on every one of his mounts.
That profit is largely due to Purton’s partnership with Francis Lui Kin-wai and the pair made it 15 winners from just 28 starts this season when Nothing Impossible appreciated the drop to Class Four company for the first time in his Hong Kong career to land the Po Loi Handicap (1,800m).
Purton completed his treble aboard the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen favourite Lucky Archangel, who made most of the running in the first section of the Chatham Handicap (1,200m).
Moreira closed the gap to four late on the card when Lucky Sweynesse blitzed his rivals to remain unbeaten, winning the Class Three Baker Handicap (1,200m) in the style of a horse to follow.
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