A debut double to new apprentice Alvin Ng Ka-chun yesterday launched the young rider's career in dream fashion as the local trainers who booked the only 10-pound claimer reaped immediate rewards.
Ng drove Hinyuen Paladin to the early lead and then the winning post for new master Dennis Yip Chor-hong at just his third race-ride at Sha Tin, before repeating the trick on the Me Tsui Yu-sak's Just Fantastic, which completed a treble for the trainer.
'It was really big pressure, but the 10 pounds is a huge help and I think that is what made the difference in both my wins today,' Ng said.
'My boss [Yip] told me to try and lead on Hinyuen Paladin, we were under pressure a long way out from Darren Beadman on the outside, but the weight told at the finish and my horse was able to keep fighting.
'I really felt the pressure in the drive to the line with Darren, he is a top jockey and he kept me pinned down to the rail, but when my horse fought back to beat him it was a great feeling to win my first race,' he added.
Former master, trainer Lance Noble from Matamata, New Zealand, was a proud man as he handed over his prot?g?to new assigned trainer Yip.
'I'm pretty chuffed for Alvin and it has been great to be here to see him make such a great debut,' Noble said.
