3 minute read
A couple of days after prominent owner Dr Tan Kai Chah passed away, Kranji has been rocked by another piece of sad news at the backend of this 2021 racing season after former Kranji-based Malaysian apprentice jockey Chew Yong Yuan died following a long illness in his Penang hometown on Tuesday morning.
Originally indentured to Kranji trainer Michael Clements, the 26-year-old was in New Zealand where he has been serving his apprenticeship under the Singapore Training Academy of Racing (STAR) programme since 2017, when he was diagnosed with throat cancer in April.
Already a winner of five races in New Zealand, Chew had to put his budding riding career on hold in order to receive treatment, but after his condition took a turn for the worse, he returned to Malaysia last month.
Clements, who, if not for that cruel twist of fate, would have had Chew back under his tutelage in August, was understandably shaken by the terrible news. The Zimbabwean-born trainer was among the many who supported Chew through an online charity golf day fundraiser in New Zealand a couple of months ago.
"It's really sad. It was never looking good for him, but it was, however, great for him to get home to be with his family," said Clements.
"The fundraising helped him get back on a medical flight from Christchurch to Singapore and then to Kuala Lumpur where an ambulance took him to Penang a couple of weeks ago.
"I did try to message him, but there was no response as I suppose his condition had really deteriorated by then.
"Last time when he was better, he was always quick to respond when I messaged him, but he must have been in a bad way in the last few days.
"My deepest sympathy goes to his family."
One of his family members happens to be his inspiration to become a jockey – Kranji jockey Mark Ewe.
"The Kranji family has lost one member, but I have lost my cousin. His mum is my dad's elder sister," said a devastated Ewe who has returned to his native Penang during the Singapore racing break.
"I still remember when Yen told me he wanted to become a jockey like me. I spoke to (trainer) Desmond Koh and he came down and started as a track rider there, and then later he went to Clements.
"He was a really good boy, very hard-working, and I have no doubt he would have made it as a jockey here. I was looking forward to having him back in Singapore, but it won't happen now."
The name YY Chew has actually been among the list of licensees since 2019, with Clements the designated master, but it's in New Zealand, first with North Island trainer Frank Ritchie and then with South Island Lance Robinson, where he got his first taste of race-riding.
He rode his first winner Dr Velocious in a 2000m race at Riccarton Park on August 15, 2020 before adding four more in 83 rides. He also claimed the Canterbury Jockey Club Most Promising Junior Apprentice prize.
Chew leaves behind his parents and two younger sisters. The details of the funeral are at the date of publication not known yet, but according to Ewe, it will be held by this week.
The Singapore Turf Club sends its sincerest condolences to the Chew family, relatives and friends.