Gary Ng Ting-keung has not had too many moments to cherish, but may have something to work with following a sound debut effort by the import Withinmyheart in the Class Three Hawthorn Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Ng called upon Derek Leung Ka-chun to initiate the 39-1 outsider to Hong Kong racing. He rode him patiently and one-off the fence with cover after breaking cleanly from an outside gate, pushed him widest out rounding the final corner and let down well, with the final 400m in 22.88 seconds to finish sixth behind handy winner Elite Sixty-Six.
Withinmyheart raced in Britain as Magic Casement for trainer David Nicholls and was most promising off a harassing type of running style for a perfect two-for-two record - a straight course win over the 1,200m at Ripon by 21/2 lengths on good going and a seven-length demolition over the 1,402m at Chester on a good-to-soft surface.
The three-year-old bay gelding is a first Hong Kong starter for the King's Best stallion Proclamation, a winner of four races at seven and eight furlongs, including the Group One Sussex Stakes, and is a second foal out of a Primo Dominie mare who was a seven-furlong winner. His dam's first foal won six times over the 1,000m.
Withinmyheart made his debut off a lofty mark of 85, but has untapped potential and, according to his pedigree, should prove useful over the 1,400m or a mile.
Owner Lily Scheng His-feng has had a tremendous association with Ng over the years with Most Delighted, Withallmyheart, Wadadelight, Truly Delighted and Wadasurprise racking up a total of 24 victories. Dennis Yip Chor-hung-trained Smart Kids was again making good late ground to go close in the Class Four Shing Ping Handicap (1,200m) and won't be far off a win.
