Caspar Fownes believes Ellis Wong Chi-wang has already out-ridden his five-pound claim and built the sort of momentum that can carry him through the rest of this season and beyond.
“He has worked extremely hard, he’s got there pretty quickly, and now he has a chance to go on with it,” Fownes said after Wong completed his apprenticeship by riding the 70th winner of his career. “He deserves all of the success. We believe we can keep building him into a bright star of Hong Kong racing. I think he can be a future Hong Kong star.”
It was fitting Wong reached the milestone on a Fownes-trained runner, driving Class 5 battler Lucky Generations to victory in the opening race.
Wong was presented with a trophy, sash and special cap to mark the achievement after the race, with a highlights package played on the infield big screen. Although no longer technically an apprentice, Wong will continue to claim three pounds until he rides his 90th winner, after which he will claim two pounds until he has ridden
“It is always a big deal to go from claiming 10 pounds to seven, and then from seven to five – and now even more so from five to three – because people start questioning whether they will support you,” Fownes said. “But the three pounds is still worth it in this tight handicap system, so of course I’ll still be using him and he’ll be getting a lot of support from our stable. Once he starts winning with three pounds, other people are going to jump on again.”
That support will be crucial for the 25-year-old, although Wong will face significant internal competition when champion jockey Joao Moreira returns to Hong Kong for a 14-week stint as Fownes’ retained rider from April 7 through to the Season Finale on July 15.
Fownes said Wong has grown considerably this season — arriving at last night’s meeting in 10th place in the jockeys’ championship and a win strike rate hovering at just under 10 per cent — and the progress has been evident in his ability to adapt mid-race.
“He has always been a cool character, but he goes to plan B if something happens now,” Fownes said. “That is an asset if things don’t work out right away.”
Fownes also said Wong “takes criticism well”, after the jockey was beaten aboard the $3.60 favourite Sky Heart, giving up too much ground early in Race 3, an 1800m Class 3 in which Soleil Fighter skipped clear from the front.
Soleil Fighter was backing up after a midfield finish six days earlier at the Chinese New Year meeting at Sha Tin, and trainer David Hayes said the extra race fitness proved decisive.
“When a horse backs up and they have eaten well, they are always hard to beat – especially if they go forward,” Hayes said after jockey Hugh Bowman controlled the race from the outset. “He has great form here. A year ago he was the Million Challenge winner here, and every time he gets the right conditions he finishes top three.
“He has earned money every time he has gone around this season and he has now won more than four million this season, so he has been a very good horse for us.”
