Leung happy to pay price for success
Apprentice Way Leung Ming-wai broke his drought in long-odds style yesterday, coming back with his first win in two months on Glorious Rhythm in the third then made it a double an hour later for his boss, Geoff Lane.
'It's great to win for the boss since it's his last year,' Leung said after Lane-trained Country Dragon revived his flagging career at odds of over 60-1, almost two years to the day since his last victory.
Like most apprentice jockeys, Leung has found things tougher as his allowance has reduced and yesterday's pair won't improve that.
'That's 46 wins, so I'm down to a three-pound allowance next meeting,' said Leung. 'It does make it harder but I just have to work harder to compensate. At least when I ride a double, it might give the trainers and owners confidence to put me on their horses.'
Leung said Dennis Yip Chor-hong's Glorious Rhythm improved yesterday due to blinkers and a wider trip in running. 'He seems a bit nervous with horses around him but today he really concentrated in the blinkers and coming down the outside,' Leung said.
Club jockey for a day, Dwayne Dunn might just as well have left his gear at Sha Tin when he finished up his contract two weeks ago. Dunn had returned to Australia after Derby day, not knowing his three-year stint still had more to run.
'Since I went home, I haven't even had a ride before the Club asked me back today,' Dunn laughed. 'David Hayes' trainer, Tony McEvoy rang me to ride in Adelaide this afternoon and I had to tell him I'd be coming back here.'
And he made the trip a worthwhile one, winning his first mount for two weeks when Alex Wong Yu-on-trained Sammy Treasure saluted in the Class Five to open the card.
Racegoers were treated to a rare appearance by a streaker at Sha Tin yesterday prior to the final event - although this one remained fully-clothed at all times.
The gentleman in question showed sufficient turn of foot to make his way out of the crowd, past officials and into the infield area, where he displayed a banner covered with Chinese characters and making some kind of a statement regarding the mainland's politics.
His moment in the public eye was shortlived, however, as Club security officials quickly rounded him up before many even realised he was out there.
Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie has plenty of time for the stock of New Zealand-based stallion Deputy Governor - but don't dare look at them in the parade yard.
'Flying Bishop is by the same sire and he's been good to me, too,' Yiu said after three-year-old Top Health (Eddie Lai Wai-ming) was a convincing winner of the second event. 'The downside with the Deputy Governor horses is that they don't look good in the parade.
'Flying Bishop never looks very good but he's nothing compared to this horse, who just sweats terribly. But I think he can strengthen up and be a decent horse as he matures.'
