Matthew Poon holds off charging Derek Leung to win Tony Cruz Award at Happy Valley finale

South China Morning Post

16-07-2025

Matthew Poon Ming-fai clung on to win his maiden Tony Cruz Award in a remarkable photo finish with Derek Leung Ka-chun at Wednesday night's season finale at Happy Valley.
The 31-year-old entered the night one clear of Matthew Chadwick and two ahead of Leung, but it looked set to be a heartbreaking evening when Ragnarr arrived a nose too late in the opening Class Five Silver Grecian Handicap (1,200m).
Frustration would have been building for Poon just 30 minutes later when Flying Wrote missed out in a photo in the Class Four Star Shine Handicap (1,200m), and Leung drew ominously closer in the next when Vulcanus ran riot in the Class Four Let Me Fight Handicap (1,200m).
The local riders' premiership went down to the final race, with Chadwick needing a win to snatch the title from Poon. That looked likely 100m out when Thriving Brothers flew to the lead, but three other rivals flashed over the top in a remarkable finish, with the Leung-ridden Regal Gem getting up in the final stride.
FOR THE FINAL TIME IN 2024/25... 😤
Regal Gem lands a first win in Hong Kong, grabbing the final race of the season over Storming Dragon at Happy Valley as Derek Leung seals a double! ✌️#SeasonFinale | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/iJfPkVmozO — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 16, 2025
That tied Poon and Leung on firsts and seconds, but with Poon ahead by a substantial margin on third-place finishes, he took the title by the barest of margins.
'It's a really great competition. It's good motivation for all of us. We stay very focused and hungry throughout the season,' said Poon. '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 will win a second one as well.'
Elsewhere, S J Tourbillon continued his brilliant end to the season by completing a hat-trick in the Class Four Turin Redsun Handicap (1,800m) under Karis Teetan.
Three wins in a row! Former @coolmorestud galloper S J Tourbillon continues his sizzling form for @KarisTeetan and Dennis Yip at Happy Valley... 💪#SeasonFinale | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/yemPunoo4k — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 16, 2025
The pair had a lot of ground to make up coming off the bend, but Teetan galvanised his mount and they surged to the front 100m out and were quickly away for an emphatic success.
'In the mornings he's very fresh and Karis said after his last trackwork that the horse was more confident – he'd seen a big change in the horse. Karis was very confident about this race,' said trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong.
'He carried 14lb more than he did for the first of his wins – it was a big change and he's done really well.
'If he can keep the form I think he can win again. The 1,800m and 2,000m races in Class Three aren't very strong so I'm confident he'll win again next season.'
It was the first leg of a double for Teetan, who also snagged the Class Four Super Oasis Handicap (1,650m) aboard Amazing Run for David Hayes.
There was a feel-good moment, too, with Benno Yung Tin-pang grabbing a farewell winner with Speedy Smartie in the Silver Grecian Handicap.
Luke Ferraris went wire-to-wire on the five-year-old, who got the bob over a charging Ragnarr in a desperate photo finish.
The 66-year-old signs off from training after 12 seasons and luck was on his side for his final meeting.
'He's been struggling for a while, he's been down to Class Five and drawn wide a couple of times. Most of the time he's had a bad draw and a bad situation, so it was lucky today,' said Yung.
'Last meeting and the first race – it's quite meaningful for me.'
Beauty Waves is in a race of his own! 🚀@zpurton doubles up at tonight's #SeasonFinale for Tony Cruz in the Class 2 feature... @Beautystablehk #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/VZWviMZKEs — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 16, 2025
Zac Purton was also on the scoresheet for a double late on the card, with Highland Rahy winning the Class Three Sweet Orange Handicap (1,650m) before Beauty Waves ran away with the feature Class Two Lucky Patch Handicap (1,200m).
Bigger targets await that classy operator, who smashed the track record and will return to Group company next season.
'He's going to get nine to 10 rating points and he broke the track record too, so we don't have much choice but to go up in grade,' said Beauty Waves' owner Patrick Kwok Ho-chuen.
'He was carrying 134lb breaking that record, which is very rare, but against Ka Ying Rising – the monster – a place would be like winning.'