Latest news with #BennoYung
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon sets sights on Tony Cruz Award as in-form Matthew Chadwick closes the gap
The 31-year-old rider heads to Sha Tin on Tuesday with a lead of two wins in the race for the leading local jockey this season The Tony Cruz Award is heading down to the wire and Matthew Poon Ming-fai is hoping Tourbillon Prince can help him extend his lead in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday. The 31-year-old has seen his lead in the local riders' premiership reduced to just two winners by a surging Matthew Chadwick, who has ridden three winners without reply from Poon. The tide could quickly shift the other direction, however, with Poon looking to Tourbillon Prince to give him a decisive boost in the race for the title. The Rommel galloper was an impressive winner of a 1,600m Class Three at Sha Tin on his most recent start for trainer Benno Yung Tin-pang, where he travelled up powerfully under Luke Ferraris before unleashing a smart turn of foot to scamper clear. Running away with it! Tourbillon Prince wins easily in the finale at Sha Tin as @LukeFerraris makes it a double... 🙌#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 31, 2025 He is now back in Class Two company, a level he is zero from five at, but Poon is hoping an ideal draw can see him put that fact right on Tuesday. 'I'm looking forward to it, it's a strong field but I hope he can keep rolling,' said Poon. 'The light weight [119lb] should be good for him. The draw in stall nine is actually probably better for him, too. 'I will leave the tactics to Benno, he'll tell me what to do and I'll try to execute it the best I can.' Poon has eight rides to try and extend his lead over Chadwick and Lapras shapes as a solid chance in the opening Class Five Racing Goes On Handicap (1,800m). The five-year-old is winless in 15 starts, but he arrives in great nick after a pair of good runs, including a 1,600m second at Sha Tin two starts ago. Jolly Jumper holds them all off! 💪 Benno Yung's charge becomes apprentice Britney Wong's second winner from her past three rides... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025 He has drawn the inside in gate one and after going close three times this season when ridden by Chadwick, it could be a slice of irony should the Smart Missile galloper get his win with Poon on board for the first time. 'He's been really consistent in Class Five races and a good draw also helps. I just really hope he can win,' said Poon. Of his remaining rides, Poon put forward Quick Contribution as his other biggest chance in the Class Four Riding High Together Handicap (1,600m). He has been steadily improving for trainer David Hall and was beaten just a length and a half when third in a Class Four over the 1,400m distance three starts back. The son of Contributer is having just his seventh career start and the step up in distance could be just what he needs. 'I think Quick Contribution is improving and learning. I hope he can jump better and I think he will run really well,' said Poon. Posting a career-best tally of 37 winners in the 2020-21 season, Poon is just one win away from equalling the tally. The goal runs parallel with his pursuit of the Tony Cruz Award and Poon is focusing solely on what he can do to wrap up the title – not what his nearest rival is doing. 'I can't control how many winners Matthew [Chadwick] can get, I can only control how many I can win so I'm just focusing on doing my best and hopefully riding a few more winners,' said Poon. 'The Tony Cruz is really good for my CV. It's really good for my career and this season is a really good chance to win it.'
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Benno Yung confirms season 2024-25 will be his last as a trainer
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. Trainer Benno Yung after a recent winner. 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. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 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. Justify colt Aeris Nova blasts away with the Sha Tin nightcap under Derek Leung for Benno Yung! 💥#SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 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.
