Roger Yu off to a Flying Start
Roger Yu off to a Flying Start
Roger Yu was the jockey to follow on Friday night’s all weather card with brilliant treble to give him an early lead in the riders’ standings.
Sand-specialist Oriental Joyful (Redwood) opened Yu’s account for the night when he made it three straight wins in the Class 2 over 1350 metres. Sent straight to the front by Yu, Oriental Joyful was always in control of the race, despite a valiant attempt by Desi Style (Captain Sonador) to run him down over the concluding stages, the son of Redwood ran out a convincing winner.
Oriental Joyful has been a real bargain buy for owner Mr. Paul Chiang Chon Kai. The now four year old was picked up for just NZD $26,000 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run 2YO Sales. His record now stands at six wins, two seconds and two thirds from his 12 starts under trainer Danny Wong. Saturday night’s win also took him to well over the HKD$1 million mark in prize money.
Yu did not waste much time in posting his next winner, the Sio Cheong trained Garlic And Spicy (Lonhro), in the Class 3 & 4 over 1050 metres. Garlic And Spicy had to dig deep to stave off the challenge of Invincible (War Chant), under Tshwaro Appie, to win by a length and a half, then had to continue the battle in the Stewards’ Room as Appie threw in an objection against the winner, alleging interference over the final 200 metres.
After hearing all the evidence the MJC Stewards Panel, chaired by Australian Zane Turner, found that whilst Garlic And Spicy shifted out and made contact with Invincible before being straightened by his rider, Invincible also shifted in under pressure near the 50 metres and raced close to the heels of Garlic And Spicy. Therefore the panel could not be satisfied that Invincible would have finished in front of Garlic And Spicy and the objection was dismissed.
Bring Me Glory (Street Cry) from the Victor Chan stable rounded out Yu’s night with a tough win in the last, the Class 4 over 1510 metres. Bring Me Glory had to pull out all stops to beat Autumn Cloud (New Approach) ridden by Frankie Choi who looked the most likely victor after heading him one hundred metres out, with Association Eight (Charm Spirit) under Shogo Nakano close up in third.
Yu was runner up to Luis Corrales in last season’s Jockeys’ Championships with 40 winners after setting up a big lead in the early part of the season before being reeled in over the last three months.
Pursuing Eagle (Holy Roman Emperor), ridden by Massa Tanaka, made it two wins from his last three runs with a narrow win over Powerful Right (More Than Ready) and Charlie Chan in the 3 & 4YO Handicap over 1050 metres, to put Irish trainer Wayne Smith on the scoreboard for the new season.
The attractive son of Holy Roman Emperor was a A$60,000 purchase at the 2019 Gold Coast 2YO’s in Training Sale.
Whilst its early days yet he does look a nice young horse in the making; a good second behind Cherry Road (Niagara) over 1200 metres on the turf back in July shows his talents are not just limited to the sand, and on breeding should have no trouble running out a strong 1500 metres.
Wayne Smith did a fine job in his maiden season as a trainer posting 14 winners and 23 placings, 16 of those in the Q spot from his 132 runners for the year. He is steadily building up his yard with now 17 horses in the stable.
Peter Lao got on the scoreboard for the season thanks to a nice rails-hugging ride on the Stanley Chin trained City Gold (Outstrip) in the Class 4 & 5 over 1350 metres.
Lao made full use of City Gold’s inside gate and on a night when some jockeys were happy to skirt a little deep for the supposedly fast part of the track, Lao read the play well and saved valuable ground to dart through on the inside after straightening, going home too strong for Treasure Honey (Real Impact), with Heat Of The Battle (Fighting Sun) running on for third.
Lao made a comeback to race riding last December after a three year absence and after initially struggling to get a decent ride; he broke the ice in April this year with a win on Infinite Treasure(Captain Rio) at cricket score odds. In fact five of Lao’s six winners for the season were all massive prices with the biggest payout Military Star (Dragon Pulse) back in July who paid out a whopping $1294.00 for the win for a ten dollar investment.
The perseverance has paid off for Lao with a number of trainers now beginning to utilize his services. City Gold was well supported late by connections for Friday’s jump at odds of 7/1.