Birthday: Nov 09, 1993

Type: Freelance Jockey

Nationality: Hong Kong

Background:
Age: 29. Matthew Poon joined Hong Kong's race-riding ranks in March, 2017. He landed a win on his first race-day but also suffered an injury that sidelined him for three weeks. Upon returning he raced to 20 wins and a reduction to his 10lb claim within 14 fixtures and 112 rides. His second Hong Kong season yielded 35 victories. Poon undertook his overseas training in South Australia, embarking in June, 2015, and was based with leading trainer Richard Jolly. His first race ride, a winner, came in October of that year. At the end of his first season, in July, 2016, he was crowned South Australia's Champion Apprentice Jockey with 51 wins. His second season in Adelaide saw him ride 65 winners and at the time of his departure for Hong Kong in March, 2017, he was sitting second in the South Australian jockeys championship. Poon commenced his Hong Kong career with an overall record of 117 wins from 862 rides at a rate of 13.57%. His first pattern victory came aboard Faaltless in the 2017 SIN G3 Garden City Trophy in Singapore and he notched a second in the 2018 SIN G3 Jumbo Jet Trophy at Kranji. He also won the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy in 2019 atop Jolly Banner, their association continued in season 2019/20, as Poon partnered the gelding to win the G3 Premier Cup, one of 29 wins throughout that term. Poon amassed a personal best 37 wins through 2020/21 which included a pair of G3 triumphs aboard Glorious Dragon and Butterfield in the Centenary Vase and Queen Mother Memorial Cup, respectively. He scored 34 wins in the 2021/22 season, including one more Group 3 victory with Zebrowski in the Centenary Vase. He slotted his 200th Hong Kong victory aboard Ka Ying Spirit in November, 2022.

Achievements:
South Australia Champion Apprentice (2015/16).

Notable Race Wins Include
G3 Centenary Vase (2022 Zebrowski), G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (2019 Jolly Banner), G3 Premier Cup (2020 Jolly Banner), G3 Centenary Vase (2021 Glorious Dragon), G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2021 Butterfield), SIN G3 Garden City Trophy (2017 Faaltless), SIN G3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (2018 Preditor).

Hong Kong Career Wins
(at start of 2023/24 season): 214 (win strike rate 6.5%).