Benno Yung Tin-pang believes the fickle nature of some of the city’s owners is “no good for the Hong Kong racing industry” after the handler’s highest-rated galloper was removed from his yard on Thursday.

Six-time winner Son Pak Fu was one of four horses transferred out of Yung’s care and the 65-year-old admits he is struggling to comprehend why his stable star has been taken away.

“I don’t really understand,” Yung said. “I think too many people were getting involved in the syndicate. There’s a person who has got involved with those four horses and he probably doesn’t have a great interest.”

Kasa Papa – owned by the same syndicate as Son Pak Fu – Ragnarr and Vulcanus were also transferred from Yung’s yard to other stables.

“This happens in Hong Kong, but it’s no good for the Hong Kong racing industry. People getting too involved – no good,” Yung said.

Son Pak Fu arrived at Yung’s yard at the end of 2021 and had to wait eight starts before shedding his maiden tag off a rating of 43.

After snaring a Class Four event in February last year, Son Pak Fu went from strength to strength, stringing together four consecutive wins over the Happy Valley 1,200m and rising 36 points.

It looked like Son Pak Fu had reached his ceiling at the end of last season, but Yung found further improvement in the speedster at the beginning of this term, with the galloper notching back-to-back wins over his beloved course and distance with regular rider Jerry Chau Chun-lok aboard.

After another solid effort in Class Two company in January, Son Pak Fu had his first taste at Group One level at the end of that month and produced a career-best effort to finish fourth in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m).

From struggling in Class Four to finishing ahead of Lucky Sweynesse in Group One company in just 14 months, Son Pak Fu rose from a 43-rated maiden to a six-time winner boasting a triple-figure rating.

But, despite Son Pak Fu’s rise through the ranks, he will now be representing Tony Cruz’s stable alongside Kasa Papa. Ragnarr will race under the tutelage of David Hall, while Vulcanus is now with Me Tsui Yu-sak.

Yung will be hoping for a change of fortune on Sunday’s Sha Tin programme, with his five-strong hand headlined by two-time winner James Tak in the Class Three Morningside And S.H Ho Alumni Handicap (1,200m).

Son Pak Fu continues to surprise Yung: ‘he’s not a smart-looking horse’

James Tak gave a good account of himself to finish second over Sha Tin’s straight course earlier this month and Yung is hoping for a bold showing from a favourable draw.

“He’s drawn terrific in one and he should have a very competitive chance,” Yung said. “He’s done well so far and I think he’ll be a good horse in the future.

“At the moment he’s running over 1,200m, but when he can mature I think he’ll be able to step up to 1,400m. I’ll let him tell us when he’s ready. It’s still a tough field on Sunday, but he’s doing well and hopefully he can be there at the finish.”