Mo breaks six-month drought and delays Size’s inevitable 1,500th Hong Kong win

Dylan Mo Hin-tung rode his first winner since May when he combined with 11-start maiden Multidarling at Happy Valley on Wednesday night to delay John Size’s inevitable 1,500th victory in Hong Kong.

Mo had ridden 59 consecutive losers before Multidarling ran down Size-trained Act Of Faith to take out the first section of the Class Four Kyoto Handicap (1,200m) by one and a quarter lengths at $10.8.

Multidarling transported Mo to his first success since Colonel, who finished sixth in the 30-year-old jockey’s drought-breaking race, won a Class Four sprint at Happy Valley on May 24.

Another local rider who returned to winning ways on Wednesday night was Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, who made a triumphant comeback after sitting on the sidelines for eight meetings through suspension.

Ho, banned by Jockey Club stewards for not riding dead-heat winner Capital Delight all the way to the line on October 4, got off to the best possible start on Valhalla in the Class Five Kokura Handicap (1,200m), and then bagged the feature event – the Class Four Japan Racing Association Trophy (1,200m) – aboard Happy Day.

“I’m, of course, happy to get a winner,” Ho said after Valhalla justified odds-on favouritism to notch his second Class Five victory this term.

“[Valhalla] drew [barrier] one and that definitely helped. Thanks to [Caspar] Fownes, who’s putting me on everything coming back, and they’re all good chances. The horse did the job tonight.”

With Angus Chung Yik-lai’s apprentice status making him ineligible to represent Hong Kong in December 6’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship [IJC], Ho is fighting with Matthew Chadwick for the local rider’s berth in the lucrative tournament.

“The IJC is always the goal,” said Ho, who ended four of the past five seasons as the local jockey with the most wins. “I’ll do my best to get in there and have a good week on international week.”

Ho improved his tally this term to 10 victories – seven fewer than Chung but three more than Chadwick – when Happy Day made it two wins from two sprint starts for his new trainer, Jamie Richards.

“Another good draw [barrier two], and he’s a good horse,” Ho said of Happy Day.

“Jamie agreed to go to 1,200m with this horse, and he was super kind by waiting to run this horse when I came back. I need to really say thank you to Jamie, and I’m glad to repay them with a winner.”

Apart from Ho, only championship leaders Pierre Ng Pang-chi and Zac Purton registered Wednesday night multiples, with their Happy Valley doubles boosting both of their title advantages to seven victories.

Ng saddled Class Three Nakayama Handicap (1,000m) winner Humble Star and Class Four Niigata Handicap (1,650m) victor Dragon Star, with Purton partnering Humble Star for Ng and steering Cody Mo Wai-kit’s Talents Supremo, who was successful in the third section of the Class Four Kyoto Handicap (1,200m).

Telecom Fighters led all the way to win Wednesday night’s highest-graded race, the Class Two Tokyo Handicap (1,650m), for Me Tsui Yu-sak and Chung, while Chill Chibi closed the card with victory in the Class Three Hanshin Handicap (1,650m) for Danny Shum Chap-shing and Jerry Chau Chun-lok.

Chill Chibi’s third win in a row had Shum talking up the Wrote gelding’s Classic Series prospects.

“He enjoyed the fast pace and hit the line strong,” Shum said. “He’s very exciting. If he can handle Sha Tin like he handles Happy Valley, he’ll have a chance in the series. He has a chance of getting in the Derby, and in the Derby, anything can happen.”

In other news, Ben, Will and JD Hayes have ruled Mr Brightside out of December 10’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. The Hayes boys had nominated the four-time Group One winner for both the Hong Kong Mile and the Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

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