Matthew Poon’s rollercoaster day ends with Hong Kong Reunification Cup victory
Matthew Poon experienced racing’s highs and lows in rapid succession at Sha Tin yesterday, compensating for a weighing out mistake in an undercard race before savouring victory in the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1800m) aboard Jimmy Ting’s Super Football (More Than Ready).
Poon’s mount in the Class 5 World-Class Leadership 1200m Handicap, M M Johnny (Better Than Ready) was disqualified after finishing tenth because Poon weighed in light after inadvertently using a lightweight vest in the race after earlier weighing out in a heavier vest.
“It was just my mistake. I was just too rushed and forgot to change back to the original vest. It was my mistake,” Poon said, after fronting the stewards to explain the discrepancy, before reflecting on a redeeming victory on Super Football.
“He got a nice draw (barrier one) and we were able to sit a lot closer than last start, so I thought before the race he would have a chance,” said Poon, who is enjoying his best season with 37 victories including two Group 3s.
“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 and I think he proved he’s good enough in Class 2, I think he can run further distance, too.”
Poon’s contrasting afternoon came as Caspar Fownes tightened his grip on the trainers’ championship with a double, leaving the triple champion eight wins clear of 11-time champion John Size with only four meetings left in the season.
Fownes was impressed in equal part by Joy Master (Rogano) and apprentice Alfred Chan after the pair combined to land the Class 5 Racing Goes On 1600m Handicap.
“The horse is flying and it was a perfect ride, very happy with both of them,” Fownes said. “Great way to start the program.”
Neil Callan then drove Fownes’ Telecom Missile (Smart Missile) to victory in the Class 5 World-Class Leadership 1200m Handicap.
In the throes of completing a seven-season stint in Hong Kong, Callan posted a double when Ricky Yiu’s Excellent Chariot (Jimmy Choux) descended with precise timing to claim the first section of the Class 4 Continuous Development 1200m Handicap.
“You know of my hiccups in the season, missed out on a lot of winners in two months,” the Irishman said. “I suppose that once I was in the time (suspension), I didn’t really think that I was going to come back. So, to be able to get the opportunity to come back, I wanted to prove that I was very able and very capable to be here. So, this is what I’m doing now.
“I couldn’t ride Excellent Chariot last time and circumstances went against me because I had already committed, but as soon as I saw him hit the last time, the last day, from a difficult spot, I chased Ricky and he was very happy to put me on. It’s always nice to finish the season off strong.”
The reigning champion trainer, Yiu recently suffered an illness but is now slowly moving back to full capacity.
“I’m about 85-90 per cent, I’m just taking things slowly after the surgery. I felt better coming to trackwork this morning so I decided to come to the races,” he said, outlining 2021/22 plans for Excellent Chariot.
“He’s been very genuine, hopefully he’ll do something in Class 3 next season.”
Jerry Chau became the first apprentice to ride 50 winners in a Hong Kong season when he scored aboard Douglas Whyte’s Big Fortune (Moshe) in the Class 3 Sportsmanship 1200m Handicap.
“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.”
A 13-time champion jockey, Whyte and Chau combined to register a race-to-race double when First Responder (Helmet) narrowly prevailed in the Class 3 Better Future 1000m Handicap, with a short head separating the gelding from runner-up Good View Clarico (I Am Invincible), with an identical margin to Metro Warrior (Fastnet Rock) in third.
Dragon Commander (Motivator) continued his remarkable consistency with deserved success for Me Tsui and Dylan Mo in the Class 4 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap (1800m), posting his second win for the season and his seventh successive top-three finish.
Dragon Commander took 28 starts to break through in Hong Kong after winning three times in Italy – including success at Listed level – when known as Way Back.
Tony Cruz zeroed in on a seasonal 50-win milestone when Street Scream (Street Boss) surged away to win the Class 4 Uncompromising Integrity 1200m Handicap under Vincent Ho. It was dual champion trainer Cruz’s 48th success for the season and the 58th for Ho.
David Hall believes Summit Cheers (Zoustar) can graduate through the ranks after another solid performance under Zac Purton to win the Class 4 Serving The Community 1000m Handicap, the three-year-old’s second success over the straight five-furlong course.
“Happy Valley, he just got it all wrong, he pulled hard and got the wobbles late,” Hall said, referring to a last-start sixth over 1200m at the city circuit.
“Down the straight here, he’s had two wins now – he had his rhythm and he was strong right through the line, but I think he’s a genuine Class 3 horse who next season can run around the bend.”
Ultimate Glory (Exceed And Excel), who started his career in Australia with Peter Snowden in 2013, posted his sixth win at his 94th Hong Kong start with a tigerish win in the Class 4 Riding High Together 1400m Handicap for Manfred Man and Alex Lai.
The ten-year-old is now approaching HK$10 million in prize-money after amassing 25 minor placings in a Hong Kong career which started in 2014. Thursday’s triumph was his first in 25 starts.
Hong Kong racing continues on Sunday 4 July at Sha Tin.