Benno Yung Tin-pang has informed the Jockey Club he will not be making an application for a licence for next term, meaning next month’s season finale will mark the end of his 12-year career as a trainer.

Yung’s decision comes just days before the Jockey Club’s licensing committee was set to make an announcement on his future.

At 66, Yung has reached the Jockey Club’s compulsory retirement age and as he has not met the criteria required for an extension, it has looked for some time like this season would be his last.

Yung will retire with his head held high after making a strong return to the track following a period of absence last year as he battled acute myeloid leukaemia.

Since his return to the races in November, Yung has had his stable ticking over solidly with 17 winners.

After starting out as a jockey in Hong Kong before becoming an assistant trainer in 1991, Yung went onto post an impressive 37 wins in his first season training in 2013-14 before landing a personal-best return of 39 victories in the 2021-22 campaign.

He sits on a total of 358 successes with 10 meetings remaining in his final season, 18 of which have come in 2024-25 so far.

Victorious at two of the past three meetings – including the triumph of $18.1 chance Aeris Nova in Sunday night’s finale at Sha Tin – Yung will no doubt be keen to keep cashing in while he can.

He has five runners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, including Day Day Victory in the Class Four Sheung Wan Handicap (1,000m).

Victorious twice at the course and distance in Class Five in recent months, Day Day Victory was sent off the $4.4 favourite for his return to Class Four on May 21, however he could only manage seventh.

Alexis Badel sticks with the four-year-old for Wednesday night’s contest and the French jockey has barrier three at his disposal aboard a galloper who will carry only 118lb.

Phantom Cyclone, Zetta Force, A La Champ and Stormi round out Yung’s hand at the midweek meeting.

In other news, jockey Angus Chung Yik-lai will head to Happy Valley with a reduced claim after riding his 95th winner at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Successful aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Star Satyr while claiming 3lb on the weekend, Chung will now only have the benefit of a 2lb allowance as he builds his career win tally.

Chung has five chances to continue his push towards a century of successes on Wednesday night, jumping aboard Yung-trained debutant A La Champ as well as Happy United, Wah May Wai Wai, Embraces and Loaded With Fluke.

Chung has picked up a handy one in last-start winner Embraces, who rises in grade for the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m).

Embraces has been assigned just 118lb off a rating of 80, meaning Chung steps in for Jerry Chau Chun-lok.