A night of milestones at Happy Valley on Wednesday (8 October) was made even more memorable as Derek Leung joined an elite club of Hong Kong jockeys by recording his 500th career win. The 37-year-old’s achievement came aboard Frankie Lor’s Regal Gem, narrowly edging out Never Too Soon in a thrilling short-head finish.
“First, I’d like to thank The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Apprentice School for looking after me,” Leung said. “I’m also grateful to all the trainers and owners who have supported me over the years. Every winner is special, especially the first and the first Group 1. Representing Hong Kong is unforgettable. I hope to keep improving and riding winners.”
Leung now joins Tony Cruz (946 wins), Vincent Ho (612), and Matthew Chadwick (569) as the only homegrown riders in Hong Kong to surpass the 500-win milestone. Among his standout victories are the 2017 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile aboard Beauty Generation and the 2024 G1 Centenary Sprint Cup on Victor The Winner. Twice a recipient of the Tony Cruz Award for Hong Kong’s leading homegrown jockey, Leung has established himself as one of the city’s premier riders.
The night also saw another landmark as Angus Chung notched his 100th Hong Kong win. Celebrating a treble himself, legendary jockey-trainer Tony Cruz praised the young rider’s dedication. “He’s a young jockey with a bright future. He’s always eager to learn and never late for morning trackwork. I see a lot of potential for him to succeed as a local jockey,” Cruz said.
Chung, a product of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentice Jockeys’ School, credited Cruz for much of his success. “Tony has been my main support — probably half my winners have come from him. He’s taught me a lot, and I appreciate all the people who have backed me,” Chung said after Parents’ Love led most of the way to victory in the Class 4 Man Yiu Handicap (1000m).
Cruz continued his dominant evening with wins in the Class 3 HKEX Cup Handicap (1650m) aboard Viva Graciousness and the first section of the Class 4 Li Yuen Handicap (1200m) with Flying Wrote. Meanwhile, trainer Mark Newnham extended his lead atop the trainers’ championship when Lunar Dash delivered a solid finish in the second section of the Li Yuen Handicap.
Other notable winners included Mighty Steed, piloted by Zac Purton, Kyrus Dragon under Karis Teetan, and back-to-back victories for Hakka Radiance and Sturdy Ruby, showcasing the depth and competitiveness of Hong Kong racing.
Hong Kong racing fans now look ahead to the Sha Tin meeting on Sunday (12 October), where rising stars and established names are expected to continue their quest for glory.
Read the full report on Derek Leung’s 500th win on RaceBuzz.
