Keith Yeung chases more Joy after lively start to 2023-24 campaign
It has been a lively start to the season for Keith Yeung Ming-lun, and the jockey is pleased to be making something of his opportunities early in the 2023-24 campaign.
While Yeung has had to settle for victory tallies of eight, nine, 11 and 11 across the past four terms, he has ridden two winners from the first seven meetings to kick his 16th Hong Kong campaign into gear.
Although Yeung could only manage second place aboard favourite Find My Love on opening day, he has landed two wins and two runner-up finishes from his six rides that have started single figures in betting.
The second of those victories came aboard Ka Ying Cheer at Sha Tin on Sunday, with the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained debutant sent off at $2.15 after defeating California Spangle in a trial.
“It’s been nice, especially when you don’t get that many rides. A couple of seconds and a couple of winners is very nice,” said Yeung, who has had 25 mounts this season.
“I was lucky to get the win with Ka Ying Cheer because, over the last 100m, I thought he was going to get beaten. He showed his big heart and fought back.
“I’ve always liked him. I’ve been working with him for six months, and he always gives me these good feelings. He’s an honest horse, he tries hard, and he does whatever we want him to do. He showed that in the race on Sunday.
“I hope he can improve on that run – he’s a big horse, so he really needs to race to lose weight and build his fitness. Hopefully, after the hard run he had on Sunday, his form will become better.”
Yeung’s other win this season came aboard Joy Coming three weeks ago, and the pair will chase more success in the second section of Wednesday night’s Class Four Tai Shue Wan Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley.
Francis Lui Kin-wai’s four-year-old chases a hat-trick of wins after saluting under Lyle Hewitson late last term, but he will have to overcome several hurdles.
“It’s going to be a very difficult race for him on the C+3 course with close to top weight from barrier 12 – it’s all stacked against him,” Yeung said.
“But he’s a lovely horse. In the mornings, he’s not an eye-catching type – he’s very lazy and very laid-back – but at the races, he’s a different horse, happy to take on the challenges.
“When he hits the front early, he’ll always sort of just waits for the others to come, and then when he sees the other horses, he kicks again. Hopefully, I can get to the front without using him too much.”
Yeung’s other ride at the midweek meeting comes aboard Manfred Man Ka-leung’s E Talent, who debuts in the Class Four Shum Wan Handicap (1,650m) after six Hong Kong trials.
“I think it’s going to be a good starting point for him. In his trials, he’s showed no speed, but he finished off nicely, especially after the line,” said Yeung, who was in the saddle for E Talent’s recent last in a 1,000m hit-out down the Sha Tin straight.
“That’s why Manfred put him in the 1,650m. Running him over 1,200m would have been a waste of time. He’s got a good barrier, and hopefully, I can just ride him quietly and let him finish like he did in the trials.”
