Marwing's HK future in doubt
The Hong Kong career of South African jockey Weichong Marwing hangs on a meeting at Jockey Club headquarters tomorrow after he went in tears to stewards at Sha Tin yesterday and asked to be released from his rides for 'personal reasons'.
The former partner of dual Horse Of The Year, Fairy King Prawn, and the 2002 Hong Kong Mile winner, Olympic Express, Marwing's future here will rest on tomorrow's meeting.
'Weichong was in tears and seriously distressed. There was absolutely no question of insisting that he ride in this sort of condition,' said Jockey Club executive director, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'I understand there are personal problems behind this and Weichong has agreed to meet me on Monday to discuss his immediate future.'
Marwing had been given a severe reprimand by the stewards panel over his ride on Triccolo in race five, after a race incident at the 1,000m mark involving Bowin, the mount of Marwing's friend and compatriot Glyn Schofield.
It was widely-rumoured at Sha Tin yesterday that the matter had subsequently spilled over into an argument between the two in the jockeys' room. Soon after, Marwing had weighed out for the following event, but broke down in tears and made a representation to officials to release him from his obligations for the remainder of the day for personal reasons.
It was the second time this week Marwing had not completed his rides, after he had called an early halt at Happy Valley last Wednesday when stewards reported he had been stood down with a headache.
Before he left Sha Tin, Marwing also requested permission to forego his booked rides for the Happy Valley fixture on this coming Wednesday, 'in order to give him time to address his situation.'
That permission was granted.
Marwing, the regular rider for Ivan Allan over the past two years, has been one of the leading figures in Hong Kong racing since his first rides here in the1992-93 season. He has won 177 races including major successes in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Derby, Classic Mile, Chairman's Sprint, Champions Mile and on Come See You for Allan in Singapore this year.
