New kid on the block Ng to start his HK career
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Licensing Committee yesterday cleared the way for new apprentice Alvin Ng Ka-chun to start his local race riding career on Sunday week at Sha Tin.
The 10-pound claimer, allocated to Dennis Yip Chor-hong, began his training Australia with the Grafton-based trainer John Shelton and rode two winners from over 100 rides before work visa issues surfaced for the Hong Kong juniors in training and cut his indentures there short.
Ng was subsequently transferred to Lance Noble in New Zealand, where he has been one of the finds, landing his first success at Te Aroha on November 25, 2009 and riding 69 winners from 723 rides in total.
With 35 wins in the current New Zealand season that finishes on July 31, Ng sits as the sixth-ranked apprentice rider on the roster.
He will be eligible to take rides at Sha Tin but not at Happy Valley until the racing stewards panel believe he is ready to cope with the tighter, trickier Happy Valley circuit.
In other news, trainer Tony Cruz has confirmed Gerald Mosse is unavailable to ride Beauty Flash at Fuchu racecourse in Tokyo on Sunday week in the Yasuda Kinen.
With the French Derby on that day, Mosse was booked to ride in the classic but there was some speculation his horse may miss the race and the French star become available for the Yasuda Kinen.
However, Cruz yesterday said Mosse would not be aboard Beauty Flash and the seat would be taken by South African Weichong Marwing.
'Beauty Flash has arrived in Tokyo well after his flight yesterday,' Cruz added. 'He is very professional and the travel doesn't bother him.'
