Latest news with #Chairman'sTrophy
New Paper
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Henrique suspended for eight months
KUALA LUMPUR Carlos Henrique was suspended for a total of eight months for failing to ride to the stewards' satisfaction on two separate charges. The Brazilian jockey was first questioned with regards to the running and handling of Fortune Wheel in a Class 4B race (1,500m) on May 3. The Richard Lim-trained galloper tailed off, and closed in only late to run fifth to Kim Kim. After taking evidence from Henrique and Lim, the stewards suspended Henrique for six months from May 12 to Nov 11. He was also probed for his ride on the Simon Dunderdale-trained Hurricane in a Class 2 race (1,400m) on April 27. For most of the race, Hurricane sat outside leader Faithful Leader, with the pair breaking away from the field. Hurricane thereafter faded to run last to the winner Energy Baby. After gathering evidence from Henrique and Dunderdale, the stewards suspended Henrique for two months, to be served consecutively from the first. He can resume riding only on Jan 10, 2026. After beginning his long-term stint in Malaysia in March, Henrique has chalked up 12 wins from 75 rides, with the last coming aboard Pacific Padrino in the Chairman's Trophy at Sungai Besi on May 4. Meanwhile, No More Delay was disqualified from his win in a Class 3 (1,200m) at Sungai Besi on March 1 after returning positive to methamphetamine. Trainer Wayne Lim Woei Chet was fined RM20,000 (S$6,000). The amended result sees No More Delay demoted to last place and runner-up Pacific MV promoted to first. SELANGOR TURF CLUB
South China Morning Post
05-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon keen to deliver more Joy for Ricky Yiu at Sha Tin on Sunday
Still buzzing from his unlikely Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) victory aboard Straight Arron, Matthew Poon Ming-fai is hoping to deliver more success for trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai at Sha Tin on Sunday. A week after landing the biggest success of his career aboard $34.5 chance Straight Arron, Poon will look to strike with the Yiu-trained Dragon Joy in Sunday's Class Three Wu Yee Sun And Lee Woo Sing Alumni Handicap (1,600m). After jumping from double-figure alleys in four straight runs, Poon hopes the benefit of gate two can help Dragon Joy improve on a last-start 12th under Karis Teetan where not a lot went right. 'Of course barrier two helps a lot. The last two times I rode him, I drew outside and this time I've drawn inside, so I think it will make some difference,' said Poon, who piloted Dragon Joy to a win and then an eighth from his two runs before his ninth under Teetan. Matthew Poon wins his first Group 2! Straight Arron returns to form in the Chairman's Trophy at Sha Tin for Ricky Yiu... 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025 'I think the key also is to just let him jump and if he can be closer, I'll just let him do it. I don't think I'll chase him too much, but I've got an inside draw and I won't be too far back. 'He's only a young horse and he keeps improving. He can handle the work and you can see when I won on him, he finished off really well. I still think he can keep improving.' Four-year-old Dragon Joy faces the likes of Star Mac, Sky Jewellery and Flying Luck in Sunday's finale and Poon is eager to further repay Yiu's faith in him. 'I can't thank the Ricky Yiu stable [enough]. Ricky has given me a lot of good support this season. I need to do my best to get the best results for him,' said Poon, who also rides Little Squid for Yiu this weekend. Monster run, Dragon Joy! 😳 Matthew Poon sweeps home on Ricky Yiu's charge to overhaul Markwin in the Class 3 - restricted to four-year-olds - at Sha Tin this afternoon... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 12, 2025 Also among Poon's book is the Mark Newnham-trained Snowfield in the afternoon's Class Two, the Faculty Of Education Alumni Handicap (1,600m). A Group One winner over 1,500m and 1,600m in his native Brazil, Snowfield was sixth over 1,400m in his Hong Kong debut and he should enjoy the step up in trip.
South China Morning Post
30-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon bags biggest win of his career in stunning upset on Straight Arron
A brilliant rails-hugging ride helped Matthew Poon Ming-fai land the biggest win of his career when the popular jockey lifted Straight Arron to an upset victory in Sunday's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m). Sent out a $34.5 chance, the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Straight Arron ran on from second last to narrowly beat a luckless Galaxy Patch in a thrilling finish. 'That's why I am so excited after the line because this is my first Group Two, so I have got to thank the trainer Ricky and the owner [Karen Lo Ki-yan] for giving me their good support,' said Poon, who won a handful of Group Threes in the city before Sunday's stunning result. 'It's so great I can win on him. Before the race, I already had a feeling I can get something today, so really lucky and excited.' Matthew Poon wins his first Group 2! Straight Arron returns to form in the Chairman's Trophy at Sha Tin for Ricky Yiu... 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025 Poon, a champion apprentice in South Australia before joining the Hong Kong ranks in 2017, expressed confidence to Yiu pre-race but the veteran handler was completely surprised by Straight Arron's first victory for the stable. A two-time winner in Australia for Chris Waller, the Fastnet Rock gelding started his Hong Kong career with David Hayes before notching four wins – including the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) and Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) – for Caspar Fownes. 'It was an unbelievable result – a big surprise,' said Yiu, who took over training Straight Arron at the end of last season. 'We were walking with the horse and [Poon] said to me 'I wouldn't be surprised if he finished in the first three. I said 'it would be a big surprise, especially over the trip'.' In a messy race which saw the lead change hands three times in the first 800m, Straight Arron was out the back but out of trouble while Galaxy Patch was seemingly poised to strike in midfield on the rail. It became a horror show for Galaxy Patch, with the $2.1 favourite held up badly and having to check off Red Lion's heels when Zac Purton went searching for a run in the straight. Purton switched back towards the inside and Galaxy Patch made a late bid, but Straight Arron had the momentum from an unimpeded run to prevail by a head. Moments In Time was beaten half a length in third. 'The first half of the race didn't really suit him at the tail and over the mile, I thought it will be a touch sharp for him,' Yiu said. 'He still managed to run through on the rail with the jockey, 'Poon Train', and he had a good finish.' Straight Arron continued a dream run for Lo, who celebrated Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) success in another upset with Cap Ferrat a week earlier. Yiu said the six-year-old was more likely to join star stablemate Voyage Bubble in the Group One Champions Mile on April 27, rather than tackle the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) the same day. Straight Arron also capped a double for the Poon and Yiu combination after they won the opening race on Sunday's card, the Class Four Severn Handicap (2,000m), with Mighty Strength. Yiu moved to third on the championship standings with 35 wins this term.
