Jerry Chau Reaches 200 Wins with Sha Tin Treble | Hong Kong Racing News
Sha Tin, Hong Kong – marked a significant milestone for jockey Jerry Chau Chun-lok, as he secured his 200th Hong Kong victory in commanding fashion with a treble at Sha Tin Racecourse. Coming off a stellar February that saw him ride nine winners, Chau continued his impressive form, piloting Francis Lui Kin-wai’s Chill Partners and Galactic Voyage, along with the consistently improving Emblazon, to victory.
“After I graduated in 2021, everything was more of a challenge and I had to fight for it and at this stage, I’m really happy with 200 winners,” Chau reflected after his successful day. He was quick to acknowledge the support he’s received, adding, “I need to thank the trainers who have supported me and the owners as well. If not for their support, I can’t reach that milestone.”
Chau’s skill was particularly evident in his rides on Lui’s pair. Both Chill Partners and Galactic Voyage overcame challenging starts from barrier 11 to secure wins, showcasing Chau’s ability to navigate difficult positions and extract the best from his mounts.
The victory with Chill Partners in the second section of the Class Four Citi Private Bank Handicap (1,400m) was a masterclass in positioning. Chau expertly guided the three-year-old forward from the draw, securing a favorable position in the box seat before unleashing a late surge to narrowly defeat the favorite, California Bay, by a short head. It was Chill Partners’ first triumph in four starts.
Galactic Voyage continued his winning streak, securing back-to-back victories in the Class Three Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap (1,200m). Chau steered the Australian import to a decisive win, finishing a length and a quarter ahead of Mickley. “He is a very good horse and in trackwork, he’s just very settled and relaxed,” Chau commented, highlighting the horse’s temperament. “He just does his own work and on race day, he wants to win.”
Emblazon completed Chau’s treble with a fourth consecutive win in the Class Two Citi Credit Card Handicap (1,400m). This victory keeps Cody Mo Wai-kit’s galloper firmly in contention for the prestigious Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). Chau believes Emblazon possesses the stamina to handle the longer distance. “He’s a very, very good horse. In the beginning, he didn’t show his heart yet but when he was ready, he’s improved with every race,” Chau explained. “To be honest, I think he can handle the 2,000m trip because he settles well during the races and never fights with me. I think at 2,000m, I can still ride him quietly and get a good finish.”
The success wasn’t limited to Chau. Cody Mo Wai-kit also enjoyed a double victory, with Conrad Patch winning the first section of the Class Four Citi Ultima Handicap (1,200m) earlier in the day. Mo expressed his admiration for Conrad Patch, stating, “I like this horse very much. The horse is only three years old and his last two runs were very good. He was still green in this race but he’ll keep improving. I hope later on he can handle a mile.”
Hugh Bowman also contributed to the day’s successes, securing a brace of wins. He guided Tony Cruz’s Gentlemen Legacy to victory in the Class Three Citi Investment Services Handicap (2,000m), adding to his earlier win with Conrad Patch.
Elsewhere on the card, Lyle Hewitson capitalized on a late opportunity, stepping in to ride Warriors Dream after Karis Teetan was unexpectedly stranded in Dubai due to airspace closures related to international conflict. Hewitson skillfully guided the Brett Crawford-trained gelding to victory in the second section of the Class Four Citigold Handicap (1,200m). Teetan’s absence was a result of missile strikes impacting air travel as part of the US-Israel and Iran conflict, a situation Crawford acknowledged with concern, stating, “It’s a pity Karis couldn’t be here… Luckily they’re safe and well, but obviously it’s a terrifying time and hopefully they’ll be home soon.”
Hewitson secured a narrow win, with Warriors Dream taking advantage of an inside run to edge out Alsonso by half a length. Crawford credited Teetan’s pre-race adjustments – suggesting the removal of the hood and the addition of a tongue tie – as instrumental to the horse’s success.
Crawford was pleased to see Warriors Dream add to his two pre-import victories in Britain. He noted the race unfolded favorably for his horse, praising Hewitson’s positioning and the horse’s determination to finish strong. “He’s a horse that we’ve been teaching to settle as he’s been over-racing, which is why he wore the hood, but I think he’s learned now and is a better horse for it,” Crawford said. He anticipates further improvement and a potential increase in distance for Warriors Dream in the future.