Michael Chang Chun-wai marked a milestone in his training career by securing his 400th Hong Kong victory, while also maintaining his impressive early-season form with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Chang achieved a similar feat just last Sunday at Sha Tin, when New Power and Kwai Chung Talents also delivered wins under jockey Keith Yeung Ming-lun, who notched his first two victories of the current campaign.
The 64-year-old trainer began his career as an apprentice jockey in Britain before returning to Hong Kong in 1987 to work for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. After progressing through the ranks as an assistant trainer, he earned his own license in the 2005-06 season. Chang made history when he became the first Hong Kong-based trainer to claim a race victory in the United States with Rich Tapestry’s win in the 2014 Group One Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
“After 20 years, I’m still standing here. That’s a big achievement,” Chang said. “I love horse racing, I love horses, I love my job and I’m proud of myself as a Hong Kong trainer. We have the top trainers and jockeys from all over the world here and I’m very proud to be competing here.”
At Happy Valley, New Power returned to racing after a four-month hiatus, surging from midfield to narrowly defeat World Hero by a short head in the second division of the Class Four Cheung Fat Handicap over 1,200 meters. Kwai Chung Talents, a four-year-old Toronado, registered his first career victory on his ninth start, holding off Unstoppable by a neck to complete the winning double for Chang and Yeung in the first division of the same handicap.
Chang, who has accumulated six wins from the first nine meetings of the season, expressed mild surprise at his positive start. “I’m surprised, it’s very unusual! I just try to keep everyone happy,” he said.
On the same card, Manfred Man Ka-leung vaulted to the top of the trainers’ premiership with a double thanks to Golden Fortune and Bright Day. With these wins, Man has reached 10 victories, one ahead of nearest competitor Pierre Ng Pang-chi. Golden Fortune, ridden by Brenton Avdulla, and Bright Day, piloted by Derek Leung Ka-chun, both claimed wins by narrow margins, with Bright Day securing a back-to-back win by edging Target Audience by a neck after benefiting from a soft draw.
Champion jockey Zac Purton also recorded two wins at Happy Valley, aboard Sunday’s Serenade and Absolute Honour. Trainer Jamie Richards praised Purton’s tactical acumen in Sunday’s Serenade’s race, highlighting his ability to settle the horse on the inside rail from gate nine and save ground en route to a one-and-a-half-length victory. “Fifteen out of 10,” Richards said, calling it one of the best rides he has witnessed in Hong Kong.
Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Absolute Honour led from gate 10 under Purton’s guidance to hold off Sky Deep by half a length in its seasonal return. “I was a bit surprised that he led by himself – only Zac can do it,” Lor said. “The pace was slow, so he could still sprint the last 400 meters.”
Finally, Caspar Fownes rounded out the meeting with a double, capturing the last two races aboard Audacious Pursuit and The Heir.