3 minute read

Macau’s newest apprentice Eric Cheung got off to a perfect start with a smart front running ride to win on My Fortune Star for his master Stanley Chin at Taipa on March 10.

Cheung only joined the Macau Jockey Club at the end of January and was having his first race ride for more than a year.

He gave a faultless display on the $29.50 race favorite in the Class 6 over 1500m to cling on and win by a head from the fast finishing St. Vaduz (Wayne Smith), with Pearl Win Win (Fausto Henrique) in third

Eric Cheung has had an interesting journey on his way to Macau that started over a decade ago back in 2006, as one of many young hopeful’s that joined the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentice School that year.

“None of my family have ever been involved in racing but I used to watch the Hong Kong races at home and fell in love with the horse racing,” he said.

“I joined the Hong Kong Jockey Club as a trainee apprentice but after completing my training I wasn’t chosen for an apprenticeship.”

After spending five years as a track work rider in Hong Kong Cheung could not quench his desire to ride in races and took it upon himself to travel to Australia in the hope of being apprenticed.

“I first went to the Gold Coast and Toby Edmonds for a while but I could not get a start there, so I then travelled to Warwick Farm where I was a freelance trackwork rider.”

“A friend suggested I contact Gordon Yorke at Gosford and I ended up going there and after 12 months and 20 barrier trials I got my licence.”

Cheung got off to a fairytale start winning at his first race ride at Coff’s Harbour for Gordon Yorke on June 24 in 2016.

“Yes it was a perfect start a bit like today’s win. I won by a short head in a photo finish just like today so it’s very lucky.” Cheung added.

Five months down the track and with 17 winners from just over 100 race rides it was all over as quick as it started for Cheung. After experiencing visa problems he returned home to his family in Hong Kong.

After a year away from racing Cheung was enticed by former champion jockey Stanley Chin to give it another shot in Macau and he commenced working for the stable this year.

Cheung is quiet tall for a jockey but is reed thin and walks around at 110 pounds. Given his great start in Macau and still eligible for a seven pounds claim, he will surely find himself in great demand.

Geoff Allendorf’s three year old Luen On Dance Kid looks to have a nice future judging by his debut win in Saturday’s Class 4 & 5 over 1200 metres under Andrew Calder.

A nice looking chestnut son of Snitzel from the Sadler’s Wells mare in Dance My Dance who has produced two stakeswinners, Luen On Dance Kid found the line strongly to beat Infinite Treasure (Charlie Chan), with pace maker One More Again (Fausto Henrique) holding on for third.

Luen On Dance Kid was originally purchased by the China Horse Club at the 2016 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $NZ180,000.

Under the banner of the Aquis Farm group the colt named Dance Corp had two trials for Team Snowden in Sydney and failed dismally before being sent Kris Lees’s at Newcastle.

“He was apparently a real handful as a colt and he took a bit of handling. After he was gelded he went to Kris Lee’s and won a trial and then they put him on the market,” Allendorf said.

“He’s still got plenty to learn but it was a nice win for his debut.”

Saturday’s race day was the second in the Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year Of The Dog and once again seen a huge roll up to the track for the running of the Macau Golden Group Fat Choy headline races the Cup, the Bowl and the Plate.

The Tony Fung trained Hopefully Tomorrow made it back to back wins under jockey Ruan Maia in the Fat Choy Plate over 1500 metres, with Tommy Tse’s Golden Thumb scoring off a nice Peter Ho ride in the Fat Choy Bowl over 1200 metres.

River Control took out the Fat Choy Cup over 1500 metres for trainer Sio Cheong to give Ruan Maia a double for the day.