HK Racing: Gun jockeys in three way battle for Tony Cruz Award

Aiming to close another solid season in style, Matthew Chadwick hopes Light Years Glory can propel him closer to a second Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading homegrown jockey when the pair contests the Purves Quaich (1200m) for Griffins at Sha Tin on Saturday (5 July).

With 34 wins for the campaign, Chadwick is locked in an intensifying three-rider battle for the Tony Cruz Award with Matthew Poon (36) and Derek Leung (32) and, with four meetings left in the season, Chadwick believes barrier draws and luck in running will ultimately prove decisive.

Light Years Glory is paying 5.00 to win the Purves Quaich for Griffins with horse racing betting sites, behind outright favourite Motor (2.80), which will be ridden by Leung.

“I guess it will come down to the gates and the circumstances of the races for everyone. I wouldn’t cut anyone out at the moment, so fingers crossed and let’s see,” said Chadwick, who claimed the Tony Cruz Award in 2021/22.

Hong Kong champion apprentice in 2008/09, Chadwick has eight rides tomorrow, while Poon and Leung both have nine mounts.

Trained by Cody Mo, Light Years Glory prevailed as a 44.00 outsider on debut over 1200m at Sha Tin on 25 May and Chadwick believes the Advertise three-year-old can improve on the effort.

“He ran well. He had the gate. What was nice was when the gap came, he was working his way through it and he got a bit of bump and it tightened him up a bit, but he fought on gamely,” he said.

“Off his first run, his ability – he seems to have it. It will come down to circumstances tomorrow. Hopefully things go smooth for us and he’ll be there with every chance.”

Poon is optimistic Ricky Yiu-trained Tourbillon Golfer can successfully utilise barrier one in the Class 4 The Stevenson Cup Handicap (1200m) against talented opposition including Szeryng and Igor Stravinsky.

“First start, he ran really well (when second) and we were very happy and hopefully he can keep on improving. As a first-starter, he did nothing wrong. He’s quiet and he’s got some gate speed and I think he will learn from that,” Poon said.

Winless in 33 rides since Keefy’s victory at Happy Valley on June 4, Poon is keenly aware of the challenges presented by Chadwick and Leung, who have chipped away at the lightweight’s once commanding lead.

Only one win short of matching his personal-best tally of 37 wins in a Hong Kong racing season, Poon is fatalistic about what might unfold as the season finale looms on 16 July.

“I think I need to get a few more wins or otherwise it is not easy. There are only a few meetings left and I will do my best. I can’t wait until the last meeting to do my best. I will try,” he said.

With four winners across the past four meetings, Leung has moved into contention for a third Tony Cruz Award, having previously triumphed in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

The tussle for supremacy in the award builds as Vincent Ho – a four-time Tony Cruz Award winner – returned to trackwork for the first time since he was injured in a fall at Sha Tin on February 9.

“I rode two horses on the first morning exercise. I felt very good after riding. It felt similar to the past,” Ho said. “I was very happy to connect with the horses again.

“I hope to return in the new season, but not this season. I will train intensively to get back to my form, or even better than before.”

Frankie Lor will unveil newcomer Symbol Of Strength, winner of last September’s G3 Sirenia Stakes (1200m, Polytrack) at Kempton, England, in the Class 3 The Chow Silver Plate Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin tomorrow.

“This horse came to Hong Kong still a colt and we tried to give him work and trial him but he was still a little bit naughty in the morning, so we gelded him and after we gelded him, he looks better and he improved again,” Lor said.

“I’ve trialled him five or six times already and he’s improved and he looks a good horse. At this moment, he’s not in top form but I need to run him.”

Formerly trained by Adrian Keatley, the Kodiac three-year-old will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni.

Saturday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Purves Quaich (1200m) for Griffins at 4pm Hong Kong time.