Young guns blaze to glory at city track

Youth dominated experience at Happy Valley last night, with apprentice Derek Leung Ka-chun outriding his claim and graduating to the senior ranks, while fellow apprentice Vincent Ho snared a double to reduce his weight claim from seven pounds to five.

Leung landed his long awaited 70th win on the Tony Millard-trained Star Of Fame at just his fourth ride back from a careless riding suspension that had threatened to push the milestone win into next term.

'It was a great feeling to achieve my goal before the end of the season, and I must thank my boss Paul O'Sullivan especially for helping me get there,' Leung said.

'All the trainers have been very supportive of me, but Paul has been a huge help to me in my career.'

Leung powered down the centre of the track on Star Of Fame to record a three-quarter-length win over El Grande in the Black's Link Handicap (1,200m) to join the ranks of the senior riders as a freelance jockey with just a three-pound claim.

Ho's double not only earned him an upset win in the Jockey Challenge, after oddsmakers quoted him at $55 on Tuesday afternoon, but also brought up a double for master Caspar Fownes and moved him one step closer to out-riding his own apprenticeship. Ho has now chalked up 45 wins in total and 33 this season to shed his seven-pound claimer tag and move down to a five-pound weight allowance.