It was a day of highs and lows for Matthew Poon Ming-fai, hit with a one-meeting suspension and HK$100,000 fine for weighing in light in the second race before going on to capture the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,800m) with Super Football.
M M Johnny was disqualified after crossing the line in 10th place in the Class Five World-Class Leadership Handicap (1,200m) when Poon returned to scale and weighed in 1.5 pounds light.
The problem was that the jockey had weighed out in his heavy safety vest but changed into a lighter vest to check his riding weight for the following race but forgot to switch back.
While an honest mistake, stewards came down hard, issuing a hefty punishment.
The last similar incident was in November 2008, when Felix Coetzee was suspended for five meetings after his horse Village Kid crossed the line in third place.
“It was just my mistake,” Poon explained. “I was just too rushed and forgot to change back to the original vest. It was my mistake.”
He managed to recover that money with a smart ride aboard the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained Super Football in the day’s feature.
Poon made full use of barrier one, enjoying a lovely run just behind the speed before letting down strongly in the straight to edge out Flying Quest and Berlin Tango.
“He got a nice draw and we were able to sit a lot closer than last start, so I thought before the race he would have a chance,” the jockey said.
“I was able to follow Zac Purton [on Charity Go], he was one-off the fence in front of me and I was in a really good position to be taken into the race.
“It really worked out for us and I was able to get the run. I had to wait for a little while, but my horse had a light weight [117 pounds] and I think he proved he’s good enough in Class Two, I think he can run further distance, too.”
Ting is in full agreement with that assessment of Super Football, who has now won three of his eight starts since being imported from New Zealand.
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“This horse has improved. We wanted to run in the Derby so we pushed hard to make that, but it didn’t happen,” Ting said.
“His form wasn’t as good after that so I gave him a break and now he’s much happier. I decided to give him one more race and we’re very lucky he was able to win today.
“He had the good barrier and we thought the pace would be a bit slow and he could settle a bit closer before finding room in the straight.
“I think next season he can run over 2,000m, hopefully he keeps improving.”
The old boy, too good! In his final season of racing, Ultimate Glory – at his 94th start in Hong Kong – grabs his sixth win in the city, this time under Alex Lai. #HKracing pic.twitter.com/pZW0QVPQQk
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 1, 2021
Misdemeanours keep stewards busy
Poon wasn’t the only jockey to earn the wrath of stewards on the day with a host of them kept back after the last to deal with some issues.
Purton will miss the final two meetings of the season after causing interference aboard Speed Fay Fay in the eighth race.
Jack Wong Ho-nam suffered the same fate in the same race for his effort on Swift Spirit.
In the last, Blake Shinn was hit with a HK$75,000 fine – the equivalent of a three-meeting suspension – after being hit with a careless riding charge for his effort aboard Good View Clarico.
Government officials back at Sha Tin
There was a heightened level of security around Sha Tin on Thursday for the Establishment Day meeting as government officials took part in the post-race presentations for the first time in almost two years.
During the social unrest in 2019, the Jockey Club decided it was better to take politics out of the equation and, since the start of the 2019-20 season, no government officials had been involved in any public displays at Sha Tin or Happy Valley.
A fair bit has happened since that original decision – including the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of the National Security Law – so it was only a matter of time before things reverted back and it was no surprise this occasion was chosen.
Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit Wing-hang presented the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup to the connections of Dragon Commander while Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai was involved in the ceremony for the Hong Kong Reunification Cup, as was Beijing official Zheng Lin.
Chau keeps setting records
Jerry Chau Chun-lok keeps raising the bar in his record-setting season, notching his 50th and 51st winners at Sha Tin on Thursday.
Chau has already cleared the previous mark for most winners by an apprentice in a season – 43 set by Matthew Chadwick in 2008-09 – and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
The 21-year-old landed the last two races on the card, guiding Big Fortune and First Responder home for his mentor Douglas Whyte.
The champion jockey-turned-trainer has high hopes for Chau’s continued development.
“Jerry has got a lot of potential and he’s in a unique situation going forward,” Whyte said. “If he takes things progressively, keeps working hard and keeps a level head, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be looking to finish top four or five next season.”
Hall’s sprinter climbs 1,000m Summit
David Hall thinks promising sprinter Summit Cheers is more than just a 1,000m specialist, despite what the evidence suggests.
The three-year-old son of Zoustar was impressive in Thursday’s Class Four Serving The Community Handicap (1,000m), jumping well near the outside rail and leading throughout with Purton in the saddle.
Summit Cheers is undefeated in two runs down the Sha Tin straight and has finished outside the placings in his two starts over 1,200m, but the trainer thinks that will change with experience.
“The record is certainly going to show that [he is a 1,000m specialist], but going forward to next season I’m sure he’s going to run 1,200m,” Hall said.
“In his first go he missed the start and he was a bit disappointing, then at Happy Valley he just got it all wrong. He pulled hard and got the wobbles on the bend and he was a bit empty late.
“Down the straight he’s got two wins. His rhythm was much better today and he was strong right through the line. I think he’s a genuine Class Three horse and next season we’ll be able to run him around the bend at 1,200m.”
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Ultimate way to bow out
Manfred Man Ka-leung’s honest veteran Ultimate Glory got the perfect send-off after a terrific career, taking out the Class Four Riding High Together Handicap (1,400m).
The 10-year-old faces compulsory retirement at the end of the season, but he showed there is still some fight in the old boy by running over the top of Jade Phoenix and Speed Fay Fay for his first victory since November 2019.
The result gives him a sixth win to go with 25 placings from 94 starts for a tick under HK$10 million in prize money.
The win also gave jockey Alex Lai Hoi-wing just his fifth of the season, while Man now has 30.
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