Latest news with #StraightArron
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
31-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of March
Jockey Andrea Atzeni celebrates his win on Lifeline Express with trainer John Size and connections. Photos: Kenneth Chan Another Hong Kong Derby was run and won, several jockeys continued to capitalise on Zac Purton's absence and a master trainer's surge at the top of the championship continued in what was a busy March. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who's hot? Andrea Atzeni was the big riser in the jockeys' championship in March, booting home 10 winners from 51 rides at a superb strike rate of 19.6 per cent to charge into third in the standings. The Italian rider missed two meetings early in the month through suspension but returned with doubles at three consecutive meetings, before adding another brace on the dirt last week on his 34th birthday. Birthday double! ✌️ Celebrating his 34th birthday, @Atzenijockey moves to 35 wins this term with a brace tonight at Sha Tin as John Size's Must Go claims a fourth dirt course victory... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 Hugh Bowman maintained his healthy break from the pack in second place in the championship, adding nine winners from 64 rides at a 14 per cent strike rate. From a trainer's perspective, John Size reigned supreme once again with an incredible 13 winners from 74 starters at a strike rate of 17.5 per cent. The 12-time champion Hong Kong handler started March one win behind title leader David Hayes, but now leads his fellow Australian by six. Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was next best with seven wins, including Sunday's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) with Straight Arron, to leap from fifth to third in the championship standings. Owner Karen Lo Ki-yan also deserves a mention here – on back-to-back Sundays to end March, she won the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) with Cap Ferrat and the Chairman's Trophy with Straight Arron. Who's not March was no kinder than the previous month to Jerry Chau Chun-lok, who is carrying a winless streak of 71 rides after failing to hit the board again. The young jockey had to settle for second six times in March, suggesting a drought-breaking success is not far away. Karis Teetan ended his own big drought of 50 winless rides when he broke through on Ace Power at the Valley, but that was his only success of the month. The Mauritian can count himself unlucky to not have notched more wins after racking up an astonishing 23 placings for the month. In contrast to Size and Yiu's successful months, veteran handler Tony Cruz battled with just one victory – California Star on the dirt last week. Cruz had plenty of placings, including seven seconds, so he wasn't far off a better return. Michael Chang Chi-wang also managed just one win in March. Win of the month The first race of March produced arguably the best debut winner of the season so far, with Justifying backing up his sizzling trial form to romp home down the straight. After jumping quickly from barrier four to cross to the outside rail in front, the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding surged clear once Luke Ferraris asked him for an effort en route to a brilliant victory by three and three-quarter lengths. Smashed 'em! 🔥 Justify gelding Justifying wins comfortably on debut at Sha Tin with @LukeFerraris and Caspar Fownes... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 The son of Justify's win was just as impressive on the clock, running more than a second inside standard time when clocking 55.67 seconds over the 1,000m. It has also proven to be a handy form race, with runner-up Super Strong Kid and third-placed Jumbo Treasure notching strong triumphs at their subsequent starts. Ride of the month Angus Chung Yik-lai deserves a lot of credit for California Star's miraculous triumph last week. The reigning Tony Cruz Award winner took the $20 shot back to last and he was unbalanced when the maiden galloper laid into the inside rail near the 750m. That's incredible, California Star! 😳 Tony Cruz's galloper makes an almighty run from last position on the fence with @angusylchung to grab a first win at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 Chung saved ground along the rail early in the straight before coming off the inside to make his way through the field. He then had to switch back towards the inside to spear California Star through a tight gap between two rivals passing the 100m, finding room to launch a late run to score by half a length. Bowman's winning mid-race move on M Unicorn at the Valley and James McDonald's pearler aboard Fast Network at the start of the month were also outstanding rides.
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.
