Secrets to winning big

Ever wonder why Nat Chan Pak-cheung is called A-lek (translation: smart one)? Well, because he actually lives up to his name.

The actor-turned-millionaire gambler tells CitySeen he's semi-retired from showbiz because he's won so much money from horse racing, he doesn't need to work. Chan, who once won a record six Triple Trios in two months, shares with us his three secrets to winning big. One: 'Like with anyone who's successful in anything, you have to work hard,' he says.

Every morning, Chan wakes at 4.30am to watch the horses at their morning trackwork. As an owner of two, he knows how to tell if a horse is having a good or bad day.

Two: 'And how do you know the difference between a good or bad day? That can only come from experience. To this day, I still watch eight to 10 hours of racing videos daily.' This is easy for Chan to say, who has 35 years' racing experience and owns a horse farm in New Zealand.

Three: 'You've got to have luck somewhere in there. I say 20 per cent luck and 80 per cent talent.' In other words, if Chan's luck is down one day, the odds are still in his favour.