A rare winner on veteran sprinter Golden Bauhinia and a show of support from trainers has come at just the right time for Jacky Tong Chi-kit, with the embattled local jockey's career on the line at a hearing next week.
Golden Bauhinia's fighting win at big odds in a straight race was Tong's third success of the season and came after the Licensing Committee asked the 32-year-old to front a "show cause" hearing.
Since riding a career-best 22 winners in 2006-07, Tong's productivity has been on the slide and his performance has come under the scrutiny of the Licensing Committee, and on Friday week the jockey will be asked why his application for a licence to ride in 2015-16 should be granted.
Tong said he had asked trainers to sign a petition pledging their support and he hopes the letter, along with yesterday's success, helps his cause.
"I'm a bit worried," Tong said. "But all of the trainers I have asked agreed to sign a letter saying they will support me and want me to keep riding here."
Tong added that most of the horses he rides are sent out at long odds and, even worse, are on many occasions "crazy".
"The other jockeys tell me that they've been offered those rides and have said no," Tong said. "They haven't got much chance and a lot of the horses I ride are the crazy ones. I'm sure with more chances I would be riding more winners. I hope I get another season. I love riding."
Golden Bauhinia's handler Me Tsui Yu-sak threw his support behind Tong and hopes the win can gain the rider a reprieve, but both trainer and jockey admitted the straight track win at odds of 42-1 was a surprise.
"Drawing near the outside fence helped him and the race turned out perfectly," said Tong, who bounced out of the gates and into the firing line, leaving fancied rival Noble Buddies outpaced and then wearing down Gallant Rock and Whistle Blower for the win.
Tsui praised Golden Bauhinia's consistency, calling the gelding "an honest old man".
"He always seems to be in the money," Tsui added.
In fact, the nine-year-old has now won 10 of his 86 starts and has picked up a prize money cheque for a top five finish in 47 of those starts.
Apprentice Jack Wong Ho-nam picked up a two-meeting suspension for careless riding for his handling of Caspar Fownes-trained Peace Combination.
Wong was found to have caused interference in the opening stages as he attempted to cross to the outside fence from an inside barrier.
