Chief steward delighted as Whyte guides Yeung in right path

The next time top apprentice Keith Yeung Ming-lun beats Douglas Whyte in a finish, the premier rider may have only himself to thank after offering his time and advice to the youngster last Tuesday after the barrier trials at Sha Tin.

Yeung (pictured) returns from suspension next week at Happy Valley, but the Jockey Club's racing stewards held fast to their demand for a meeting with last season's leading junior before he recommenced his career.

On December 19, Yeung was handed two separate careless riding suspensions for his Midlands Cup-winning ride on Dragon Fighter, the fourth and fifth such penalties meted out to him already this season and the continuation of a rocky disciplinary record that saw him miss 27 days last term.

'Several of the stewards' panel were at the meeting to discuss Keith's riding with him, as was Philip Waldron, the race riding instructor, Keith's allocated trainer, Almond Lee, and Douglas Whyte was also good enough to give us his time,' said chief steward Kim Kelly.

'For Keith Yeung to have received 15 days of suspension already this season is unacceptable to us and it should be for him, too, and we could not let it pass without trying to do something about it.'

Kelly said those present took Yeung through some of his rides this season - including some for which he had not been penalised - to understand what he was thinking and doing in races and to help him improve. 'I think, understandably, he got the most out of talking with Douglas, who was able to point out how he would have handled the same situations, and there was a very good exchange between them,' Kelly said.

'And it wasn't all one-way traffic - we also pointed out areas where Keith was entitled to get some credit for things he had done as well. Yeung's attitude to the meeting was good and hopefully we have addressed a few matters for when he returns next week and we can all move on.'