After soaking up international week as a spectator, Angus Chung Yik-lai is itching to get back in the thick of things at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Ineligible for last Wednesday’s four Longines International Jockeys’ Championship races and Sunday’s four Group Ones, apprentice Chung opted to take his careless riding suspension during the city’s biggest week of racing.
“I went to the races Wednesday and Sunday with my boss [Tony Cruz] and some owners. It was good to see the big-name jockeys riding, and those three local horses [were amazing],” Chung said, referencing star riders like Ryan Moore and Maxime Guyon and brilliant Hong Kong horses Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and Lucky Sweynesse. “But it’s good to be back. I can’t wait for my next winner.”
Fourth in the premiership with 19 victories, Chung is confident he has at least a couple of winning chances at the midweek meeting as he looks to cash in before beginning another ban on December 26.
Richards hopeful of a Happy Wednesday at the Valley: ‘He has a nice chance’
After two wins from eight rides aboard the four-year-old last season, Chung reunites with Atomic Energy for the Class Three Choi Wan Handicap (1,000m) after the galloper’s first-up second under Alexis Badel.
“I think he’s a big chance to win,” Chung said of Cruz’s Atomic Energy, who he hopes can get a nice midfield run from gate one.
“Probably this race has a bit of pace, which will be suitable for him because he’s not very balanced if you try to hold him around the turn. If the pace is on, then he’s smoother, and he should perform very well.”
Chung also has chances in the night’s two Class Fives, jumping aboard Manfred Man Ka-leung’s last-start winner Happy Horse in the Ngau Tau Kok Handicap (1,000m) and Regency Happy Star for Cruz in the Sau Mau Ping Handicap (1,650m).
“I don’t think the field is very strong, and Happy Horse has a big chance to win again. He put the pacifiers on last start and he settled a bit more. I think he should run well again,” Chung said.
“Regency Happy Star has been pretty unfortunate his past couple of starts. I don’t think the pace has been very suitable for him, but I think this race is going to be quicker compared to his past couple of starts. It should suit him and hopefully he can perform well.”
Chung also teams up with Serangoon, Up And Up, You’remyeverything and Superb Capitalist on the midweek card.
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