Those South African jockeys, they get in where water couldn't, and who would deny them? Last night, the talented pocket dynamo Weichong Marwing moved to the head of the jockey standings which in previous seasons has been the province of his countrymen Basil Marcus, Robbie Fradd and Douglas Whyte.
Marwing took the second event on the Gary Ng Ting-keung-trained Simon's Decision before following up on Only The Brave for retaining trainer Tony Millard in the fourth on the Happy Valley card.
The brace of winners lifted Marwing's tally to 21 for the season and put him one clear of Whyte. Marwing, who habitually brings his mounts with a hard-to-resist late surge, rode his customary stalking race on the improving Only The Brave to win by a head from Guscott with the Tony Cruz-trained Dynamic Winnings third. The latter is on the upgrade, stayed the mile well despite having a hard run, and is one to follow.
Millard was full of praise for Marwing, with whom he teamed up for the start of this season. 'He's a very strong rider who works hard and deserves all the success he's had,' Millard said.
There were many who thought Marwing might have pulled the wrong rein after his prolific Club Jockey stint in the latter part of last season, opting for the retainership with the Derby-winning Millard rather than applying for another Club Jockey position.
But he's making full use of his base of winners with Millard, who added: 'It has given him a bit of security. There's a steady supply of winners, and myself and the owners are also pretty reasonable - you have to have a bit of give and take.'
Millard was referring to the kind of situation which occurred last Sunday when Marwing was released from his stable obligation to the outsider Naturally Money so he could ride to victory Ricky Yiu Poon-fie's exciting three-year, Jeune King Prawn.
