Derek Leung soared into elite company during a meeting of milestones at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (8 October) by becoming only the fourth homegrown Hong Kong, China jockey to reach the 500-win landmark.
Leung, 37, joined Tony Cruz (946), Vincent Ho (612) and Matthew Chadwick (569) as the city’s only homegrown riders to post 500 or more wins when Frankie Lor’s Regal Gem (128lb) triumphed by a short head over Never Too Soon (121lb).
“First, I’d like to say thank you to The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Apprentice School for looking after me and helping me with everything,” Leung said. “I need to thank all the trainers and owners who have always supported me. So many great experiences and opportunities I can’t forget.
“It’s good to make 500 winners and be the fourth local jockey (to reach that landmark). I hope I can keep it up and keep riding winners. Every winner is very important for me, especially the first winner and the first Group 1, and representing Hong Kong is unforgettable. I hope to keep improving myself and keep doing great.”
Leung’s biggest successes in Hong Kong so far include winning the 2017 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) aboard Beauty Generation and the 2024 G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) with Victor The Winner, as well as twice winning the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading homegrown jockey in 2016/17 and 2017/18.
Leung’s achievement followed Angus Chung’s effort to clock his 100th Hong Kong success.
Celebrating his best meeting of the 2025/26 season with a treble, the legendary Cruz anointed Chung as a potential future star after the young jockey brought up his century of victories.
As one of the most decorated figures in Hong Kong racing history with six jockey championships, two training crowns and a combined 2,522 wins – 946 as a jockey and 1,576 as a trainer – Cruz said Chung has the attributes to reach the top after his victory on Parents’ Love (135lb) in the Class 4 Man Yiu Handicap (1000m).
“He’s a young jockey with a bright future, I believe he’s improving all the time,” Cruz said. “Whatever I say, he always remembers – I don’t have to repeat what I say – and he’s one kid who’s learning and improving all the time and he’s very keen.
“He’s spot on with the morning trackwork and never one time is he late, so I see a lot of potential. He wants to be successful in Hong Kong as a local jockey and I want him to accomplish what I have done in my life.”
Chung credited the bulk of his success to his mentor after Parents’ Love led most of the way in the first leg of a running treble for Cruz.
“Tony is my main support – probably half my winners have come from him. He has taught me quite a lot of things. If not for him, I cannot get in that race so I appreciate people who support me,” Chung said.
“Parents’ Love had an easy lead and finished very well. He gave me full confidence and I didn’t have to worry about a horse going past me.”
A product of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, Chung rode 76 winners in South Australia from 2021 when attached to trainer Jon O’Connor’s stable before returning to Hong Kong for the 2022/23 season.
Chung showed the benefit of his overseas stint with 46 wins in the 2023/24 season to claim his first Tony Cruz Award.
“I’m very grateful to have such a good master and to stay with him (Cruz),” Chung said. “It’s my fourth season and I’m glad that I can get 100 wins, but I’m trying to get more.”
Cruz combined with another of his proteges, Chadwick, to land the Class 3 HKEX Cup Handicap (1650m) with Viva Graciousness (116lb) before teaming with Jerry Chau to score with Flying Wrote (124lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Li Yuen Handicap (1200m).
Mark Newnham extended his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship when Lunar Dash (131lb) finished solidly to land the second section of the Class 4 Li Yuen Handicap (1200m) for Zac Purton.
With 10 wins, Newnham leads David Hayes (eight), Caspar Fownes (seven), Danny Shum (seven) and Cruz (seven) and hopes Lunar Dash can continue to develop.
“He showed above average ability from the start. His trials have always been good,” the Australian said. “He’s maturing slowly. Through the race, he was good, but when he joined the lead, he still got a little bit lost and wanted to wander out, so he’s got improvement to come. I just think that it’s going to take a while for him to realise his potential, but he’s certainly got enough.”
Purton completed a race-to-race double when Francis Lui’s Mighty Steed (129lb) prevailed in the first section of the Class 4 Man Cheung Handicap (1650m) before David Hall-trained Kyrus Dragon (124lb) snared the first section of the Class 3 Harbour View Handicap (1200m) under Karis Teetan.
Winless in his first 24 Hong Kong starts, Shum’s Hakka Radiance (135lb) made it two victories in a row by landing the Class 5 Pedder Handicap (1800m) before Manfred Man’s Sturdy Ruby (135lb) notched his third course and distance triumph with success in the second section of the Class 4 Man Cheung Handicap (1650m) under a patient ride from Ho.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 October).
By Leo Schlink
