Poon wins Tony Cruz Award by a whisker
With Leung's wins on Me Tsui's Vulcanus in the Class 4 Let Me Fight Handicap (1,200m) and Frankie Lor's Regal Gem in the Class 3 Sun Jewellery Handicap (1,200m), officials resorted to a countback for thirds after both Poon and Leung finished tied on 36 wins and 38 seconds.
Poon, who honed his craft in Adelaide where he earned his nickname the Poon Train, claimed the award named after the former legendary Hong Kong jockey, now a top trainer, with 56 thirds to Leung's 35.
"It's a really great competition and good motivation for all of us. We stay very focused and hungry throughout the season," said Poon, who enjoyed successful stints at Kranji as an apprentice jockey attached to the Shane Baertschiger yard in 2017 and 2018.
"All of the local jockeys improve as a result. I think it really encourages every local jockey to improve.
"I'm so glad I can get there and it means a lot to win my first one. Hopefully I'll win a second one."
Without a win in 39 rides since June 4, Poon owed his eventual crowning - his second after the Hong Kong champion apprentice title seven years ago in the 2017-18 season - to his second placing on Ragnarr behind Speedy Smartie in the opening event, the Class 5 Silver Grecian Handicap (1,200m).
Incidentally, Speedy Smartie handed trainer Benno Yung, 66, a perfect send-off with win No. 361 on his last day before retiring.
The destiny of the Tony Cruz Award hovered in the balance until the 847th and final race of the season with Matthew Chadwick still able to clinch the coveted prize for the second time with a win on Thriving Brothers, while Poon could have sealed victory with success on Copartner Fleet.
Thriving Brothers loomed to take the lead in the straight before finishing fourth, while Copartner Fleet faded into ninth place, leaving Leung to celebrate aboard Regal Gem.
Leung finished the season in a blaze with seven wins across the closing eight meetings, but even that late flourish at the eleventh hour proved too little too late for that decisive blow.
"The competition is a positive for the local jockeys," said Leung. "It's a good result for me and I hope I can bring this form for next season and have a good start - tonight, I can't catch the (Poon) Train."
Already crowned eight-time champion jockey Zac Purton took his final season tally to 138 wins with a race-to-race double on Francis Lui's Highland Rahy and Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Waves in Race 8. Australian trainer John Size who sealed his 13th title last week, returned home empty-handed at the finale, settling on a score of 69 winners.
As a spin-off to the trainers' premiership, Caspar Fownes reclaimed his King of the Valley title as Happy Valley's leading trainer of the season when James Orman piloted Monarch County to victory in Race 2.
Fownes, who holds the record for the most wins by a trainer at Happy Valley with 628 victories, topped the city circuit's standings this season with 27 to Mark Newnham's 24. HKJC
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New Paper
6 days ago
- New Paper
Poon wins Tony Cruz Award by a whisker
HONG KONG Matthew Poon withstood an inspired season-finale push from Derek Leung, to claim his first Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong's leading home-grown jockey in dramatic circumstances at Happy Valley on July 16. With Leung's wins on Me Tsui's Vulcanus in the Class 4 Let Me Fight Handicap (1,200m) and Frankie Lor's Regal Gem in the Class 3 Sun Jewellery Handicap (1,200m), officials resorted to a countback for thirds after both Poon and Leung finished tied on 36 wins and 38 seconds. Poon, who honed his craft in Adelaide where he earned his nickname the Poon Train, claimed the award named after the former legendary Hong Kong jockey, now a top trainer, with 56 thirds to Leung's 35. "It's a really great competition and good motivation for all of us. We stay very focused and hungry throughout the season," said Poon, who enjoyed successful stints at Kranji as an apprentice jockey attached to the Shane Baertschiger yard in 2017 and 2018. "All of the local jockeys improve as a result. I think it really encourages every local jockey to improve. "I'm so glad I can get there and it means a lot to win my first one. Hopefully I'll win a second one." Without a win in 39 rides since June 4, Poon owed his eventual crowning - his second after the Hong Kong champion apprentice title seven years ago in the 2017-18 season - to his second placing on Ragnarr behind Speedy Smartie in the opening event, the Class 5 Silver Grecian Handicap (1,200m). Incidentally, Speedy Smartie handed trainer Benno Yung, 66, a perfect send-off with win No. 361 on his last day before retiring. The destiny of the Tony Cruz Award hovered in the balance until the 847th and final race of the season with Matthew Chadwick still able to clinch the coveted prize for the second time with a win on Thriving Brothers, while Poon could have sealed victory with success on Copartner Fleet. Thriving Brothers loomed to take the lead in the straight before finishing fourth, while Copartner Fleet faded into ninth place, leaving Leung to celebrate aboard Regal Gem. Leung finished the season in a blaze with seven wins across the closing eight meetings, but even that late flourish at the eleventh hour proved too little too late for that decisive blow. "The competition is a positive for the local jockeys," said Leung. "It's a good result for me and I hope I can bring this form for next season and have a good start - tonight, I can't catch the (Poon) Train." Already crowned eight-time champion jockey Zac Purton took his final season tally to 138 wins with a race-to-race double on Francis Lui's Highland Rahy and Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Waves in Race 8. Australian trainer John Size who sealed his 13th title last week, returned home empty-handed at the finale, settling on a score of 69 winners. As a spin-off to the trainers' premiership, Caspar Fownes reclaimed his King of the Valley title as Happy Valley's leading trainer of the season when James Orman piloted Monarch County to victory in Race 2. Fownes, who holds the record for the most wins by a trainer at Happy Valley with 628 victories, topped the city circuit's standings this season with 27 to Mark Newnham's 24. HKJC
New Paper
26-06-2025
- New Paper
Chadwick keeps Poon on toes
HONG KONG The battle for the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong's leading homegrown jockey intensified at Happy Valley on June 25, when Matthew Chadwick's double pushed him to within two wins of Matthew Poon, with only six meetings left in the 2024/25 season. Chadwick boosted his season's tally to 34 - compared to Poon's 36 - with wins on the Cruz-trained Superb Capitalist in the HK$1.86 million (S$303,000) Class 3 St George's Challenge Cup Handicap (1,000m) and Me Tsui's Another Zonda in the HK$2.05 million Class 3 Renfrew Handicap (1,650m). Winner of the Tony Cruz Award in 2021/22, Chadwick has steadily cut into Poon's lead with seven wins from the last nine meetings, and is poised to continue the challenge ahead of the season finale on July 16. "We'll see what happens, we'll try our best. I'm just trying to pick up better rides. The fields are getting smaller, everyone's riding well and it's harder to get rides," said Chadwick. "You've just got to make them count when they come. Hopefully, I can get some more decent rides." Superb Capitalist ($23) notched his fifth victory at Happy Valley - and sixth overall - before Another Zonda ($54) scored his first win at the city circuit after previously triumphing at Sha Tin. My Day My Way ($16) broke through in spectacular fashion for Danny Shum and Jerry Chau in the second section of the Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1,200m). Woodfire Champ ($58) claimed his second course-and-distance victory with success in the Class 5 Chester Handicap (1,200m) for Michael Chang and Derek Leung. Seventh of 12 runners at the 150m, My Day My Way charged late to claim New Power in the last stride, prevailing by a short head. "He ran a tremendous race, I knew coming to the outside would be hard but we were very lucky," said Shum. "The last 20 metres, he was very strong. I think he can win in Class 3 as well. I'll give him a break now and wait for next season." Shum posted a double when Harry Bentley piloted progressive three-year-old Wrote A New Page ($29) to his second successive win in the first section of the Class 4 Lancashire Handicap (1,650m). Chang also eventually sealed a brace when Amazing Victory ($156) presented James Orman with his ninth win of the season by claiming the third section of the Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1,200m). "When I thought I was going to be here for only six weeks, the goal was to get one winner," said Orman, who arrived from Queensland, Australia in February. "When I got the extension, I thought I wanted to ride 10 winners - I thought it was a reasonable goal for my first stint and less than half a year. "I didn't come here with expectations to be riding winners here every week like at home. I just wanted to get a few winners and hopefully stay." David Hayes combined with Lyle Hewitson to land the second section of the Class 4 Lancashire Handicap (1,650m) with Amazing Run ($58), who succeeded despite drawing his eighth double-figure barrier from 11 starts this season. "He's had a really unlucky year with bad barriers - tonight included (gate 10), but Hewitson rode a great race and he won like a good horse, so we're very happy," said Hayes. "He had no gear on when he won, then he lost his form and we were trying to make him win playing around with his gear. "But we just decided to go back to nothing and the horse really likes it." David Hall's Never Too Soon ($16) swept to a three-length triumph in the first section Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1,200m) for Brenton Avdulla. "He (Never Too Soon) is a good old soldier, he's had a pretty tough season - it's taken him all this time until he could get his win," Hall said of the seven-year-old, who won three races in Australia when he raced as Never Never River in 2020/21. "He's got down to a rating of 54 and he was always going to be dangerous. He's a backmarker and in these 1,200m races at Happy Valley races, he always needs a bit of luck. "He needs a barrier and he needs a bit of speed to help. He got in the right race tonight off that rating and got his run at the right time." Dragon Four Seas ($26) thundered to victory in the Class 3 Selkirk Handicap (1,200m) to give Zac Purton his 123rd win of the season and Manfred Man his 38th of the campaign. HKJC
New Paper
24-06-2025
- New Paper
June 25 Hong Kong (Happy Valley) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) 2 Winning Heart draws barrier 4 after two runs from gate 12, and that gives his chances a clear boost. He is well placed to pick up another win. 7 So Awesome maps well again from a soft draw and would not have many excuses. He was only beaten a neck last start and stays in the mix. 1 Triumphant Warrior drops in class and gets Zac Purton back on, which brings him right into it. 12 Multidarling is a lightweight chance. His recent runs have been encouraging and while hard to trust on a win line, he could fill a hole. Race 2 (1,200m) 5 My Day My Way has had no luck with barriers, so gate 8 is a small win. He has gone down a head in back-to-back runs and looks ready to go one better. 4 Monarch County might be looking for further but brings solid Sha Tin form to the Valley for the first time. He maps well and can be competitive. 7 New Power is holding form and will roll forward to take a position on speed. He gives himself every chance. 6 Fortune Warrior is tricky to catch but maps to lead from barrier 3 and gets the set-up to give a sight. Race 3 (1,200m) 1 Fun Elite drops back into Class 4 and that alone makes him hard to ignore. He has the speed to push forward and can make his own luck. 7 Victor The Rapid showed sharp improvement first-up for Pierre Ng, charging home into second. He is ready to go one better. 4 Thunder Prince had no luck last start, badly held up in the straight before diving through late to miss by a head. 10 Vulcanus is a 16-start maiden in the grade but has been consistent, placing in five of those, including back-to-back seconds. Drawn well in barrier 3 and must be kept safe. Race 4 (1,650m) 1 Galaxy Witness has found form again since dropping back to Class 4. He has hit the line well in two runs over 1,200m, and the rise in trip looks key to breaking through. 4 Good Luck Win is better suited back in Class 4. Class 3 was a stretch and wide draws did not help, but he stuck on and this shapes much better. 3 Chain Of Gold also drops in grade and gets Purton from barrier 2, which puts him right in the picture. 5 Amazing Award draws ideally in gate 1 and has been consistent all season for David Eustace. If he uses the draw, he stays in the mix. Race 5 (1,000m) 2 Seasons Wit got all the favours from barrier 1 last start and put them to good use, winning with authority. He has trialled well since and from the same draw again, he gets every chance to repeat. 4 Eternal Fortune is a better chance back to 1,000m. Two runs ago, he was runner-up to Seasons Wit, and last start, he was caught deep from barrier 12 over 1,200m and faded after doing plenty of early work. This suits much better. 9 Parents' Love returns to his pet track and trip, and will be up on the speed, though he may face pressure in a race with a few going forward. 1 Youthful Spirits resumes off a break and has not won in over a year, but he is capable of giving a sight first-up. Race 6 (1,200m) 2 Never Too Soon draws a big upgrade into gate 1 after jumping from 12 last time. He is well rated in Class 4 and comes right into the mix. 3 Lahore is building towards a win after three runs over 1,000m at Sha Tin. His third last start held good merit after blundering early and he looks ready to strike. 6 Bits Superstar broke through last start after a close-up third and remains a strong chance to go on with it. 8 Savvy Twinkle maps to get the run of the race from an inside draw. He was backed last start before pulling up with blood in the trachea and is worth another chance. Race 7 (1,650m) 3 Wrote A New Page is a three-year-old on the rise. He put it all together last start to shed his maiden tag, doing it well at his first look over this course and trip. 7 California Moxie took time to find his feet across a few distances, but now that he has, he has gone back-to-back in strong style. A hat-trick looks within reach. 2 Capital Legend is hard to fault. He finished second to Wrote A New Page two starts back, then came out a week later and won comfortably. 5 Setanta tends to get back in his races but ran on well for sixth behind Wrote A New Page last time. That form reads well again. Race 8 (1,650m) 8 Stellar Swift tried this course and distance for the first time last start, went back from a wide gate and found the line well. Drawn better now, he should settle closer in the run and looks the one to beat. 1 Sky Trust draws wide but with little speed engaged, he can roll forward and land in a good spot. He ran a promising third over this course and trip last time, and both wins this season have come when settling handy. He gets his chance. 3 Aestheticism had excuses late last time when checked in the straight, so there was merit in his third placing. He is always a chance in races like this and will be closing from midfield. 5 Hameron could not find clean air in the run home last start but was not beaten far. Race 9 (1,200m) 1 Storm Rider returned to winning form last start with blinkers on for the first time, surging clear by over three lengths from barrier 2. He now draws even better in 1 and can win again. 3 Power Koepp has been in top form since joining Mark Newnham, posting two wins and two seconds from four starts. He settled further back than usual last time but closed off strongly. He maps to get every chance from barrier 4. 7 Dragon Four Seas has already won four races this season, including over Power Koepp last time. He is holding form. 4 Charming Legend resumes and goes well fresh with two wins from three first-up runs. His trial was sound and while 1,200m is a query, he is one to keep in mind at odds. Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
