Derek Leung’s biggest win to date came at the 2017 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and the local ace is hopeful of a return to the big time when he hops aboard Encountered and Money Catcher on Sunday (10 December) at Sha Tin.
A product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, Leung landed his first and only Group 1 win in the 2017 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile atop Beauty Generation, delivering a first-rate front-running drive to triumph with the subsequent two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2017/18 & 2018/19).
Earning the Group 1-winning title crowned years of grafting for Leung, who has steadily climbed the city’s riding ranks. His career began some 20 years ago at pony club and this was followed by an apprenticeship, which soon transformed him into the winner of 441 races in Hong Kong and the earner of two Tony Cruz Awards (2016/17 & 2017/18) as the season’s leading homegrown jockey.
“It’s a long time ago. Of course, it’s one of the best days and I still remember coming back and all of the fans were cheering. It was a good feeling,” Leung said.
That success came at just his second LONGINES HKIR ride. The 35-year-old has had five more since then and will be two-pronged for the third time at the HK$118 million showpiece with Encountered in the HK$32 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Money Catcher in the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
Encountered was Leung’s first Group race victory in two years, saving ground along the rail to land the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) in November.
“He’s good. He’s had good draws recently, so he’s always in a good position. This time it will depend on the draw, he can be quite handy and positive, so hopefully we can follow the right horse and keep going,” Leung said.