Ellis Wong continues to establish himself as one of Hong Kong’s most promising young jockeys, delivering a standout performance at Happy Valley with a two-win evening that included a memorable success aboard Kaholo Angel. This latest victory marks a full-circle moment for Wong, as the same horse introduced him to racing in Hong Kong, and now plays a vital part in propelling his ascent.
Backed by strong recent form, Wong first struck with Mega Bonus, trained by Ricky Yiu, before sealing his double in the night’s Class 2 feature on Kaholo Angel. The partnership between the 24-year-old apprentice and the consistent galloper reflects mutual growth, with Wong now having steered the gelding to four of his six wins. The triumph also proved a significant one for trainer Caspar Fownes, boosting him to fourth position in the trainers’ championship.
Fownes praised Wong’s maturity in the saddle, particularly in such a competitive Class 2 field, emphasizing the apprentice’s growth and increasing value among local trainers. The win also secured a lucrative PPG Bonus of HK$1 million, adding extra gloss to a night of milestones.
Wong’s claim advantage has helped him rack up 17 wins this season, further cementing his place among Hong Kong’s emerging talents.
Meanwhile, Matthew Poon edged closer to his season-best with a well-judged ride on Keefy in the Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap. The Frankie Lor-trained runner registered back-to-back wins and brought Poon’s tally to 36 victories, positioning him as a front-runner for the Tony Cruz Award. Focused on surpassing his personal best of 37 wins from the 2020/21 season, Poon remains determined to maintain his momentum through the final stretch of the season.
Keagan De Melo also had reason to celebrate, ending a 38-ride drought with a polished effort aboard Golden Darci in the Class 4 Cricket Club Valley Stakes Handicap. Drawing from an ideal gate and favorable track conditions, De Melo rode with confidence to bring up his tenth win for the term.
Another streak was broken when Karis Teetan guided S J Tourbillon to victory in the Class 4 Mount Nicholson Handicap. The gelding, formerly known as Roman Empire under the care of Aidan O’Brien, capitalized on the rain-affected surface to end a winless run that dated back nearly two years.
Fownes enjoyed further success with Joy Of Spring, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who claimed another 1800m victory in the Class 3 Tai Tam Gap Handicap. The horse’s consistency over this distance underscores the stable’s solid form this term.
Elsewhere on the card, Wrote A New Page delivered a strong performance for Danny Shum and Harry Bentley, while David Hayes narrowed the gap at the top of the trainers’ leaderboard with Storm Rider’s win in the Class 3 Stanley Gap Handicap.
Wrapping up the evening, Alexis Badel piloted Leather Master to an authoritative win in the Class 5 Mount Butler Handicap, confirming his class at the staying distance.
With form peaking and key players finding rhythm, Hong Kong racing now shifts to Sha Tin for the Summer Series, with the first twilight meeting of the season set for Sunday, 8 June.
