Unflappable Chang here to stay

By Jack Dawling

An ice-cool Michael Chang Chun-wai ensured he will be training in Hong Kong next season when he claimed his 14th win of the campaign courtesy of New Power's gutsy success at Happy Valley last night.

Chang started the evening at the bottom of the trainers' championship but said he was always confident that he would meet the Jockey Club's performance criteria and avoid a third and final "strike," which would have stripped him of his license.

"I was never worried," Chang told The Standard. "It didn't matter whether I needed 14, 16, 20, or even 30 wins, it never bothered me and I always believed in myself."

Chang, who was the last of the 22 trainers to meet the Jockey Club's performance criteria, was also bullish that the best is yet to come from New Power after his four-year-old caught Jumbo Treasure in the final strides of the opening 1,200-meter contest to prevail by a short head under Keith Yeung Ming-lun.

"He's a pretty honest horse and he's always sound, healthy and very consistent," Chang said. "It was a good ride and I think the horse is still improving."

New Power tracked the pace in third before making smooth headway turning for home on the outside of the leader and favorite, Jumbo Treasure.

Chang's galloper was a length down 200m from home but gradually ate into Jumbo Treasure's advantage with every stride in the closing stages before getting his nose in front at the all-important moment.

It marked New Power's first win of the season just seven days on from his latest run, where he finished sixth over the same course and distance.

"Last week just wasn't his day and I said to the jockey he loves to come to the outside," Chang said. "If he's on the inside rail, mentally he can just give up, so it was good that he came down the outside and battled well."