Matthew Poon celebrated the biggest win of his riding career by capturing the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) aboard Straight Arron (123lb) for trainer Ricky Yiu at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 30 March).

Savouring a first Group 2 triumph after previously winning at Group 3 level five times in Hong Kong, Poon expertly saved ground with Straight Arron to surprise by a head over Galaxy Patch (123lb) with Moments In Time (123lb) a half length away in third place.  

Owned by Karen Lo, who won last Sunday’s (23 March) HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) with Cap Ferrat, Straight Arron is now a five-time winner in Hong Kong, headlined by the 2023 HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Poon, 31, is a product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School. He’s won 261 races in Hong Kong, featuring a double today. His previous biggest conquests came with Jolly Banner in the 2019 G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) and 2020 G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m), the 2021 and 2022 G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) with Glorious Dragon and Zebrowski, respectively, and the 2021 G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) atop Butterfield.

“That’s why I am so excited after the line because this is my first Group 2, so I have got to thank the trainer Ricky and the owner for giving me their good support,” Poon said.

“It’s so great I can win on him. Before the race, I already had a feeling I can get something today, so really lucky and excited.”

Poon joined Hong Kong’s race-riding ranks in 2017. Before returning to his home city, he commenced overseas training in Australia in 2015, where he was based with leading South Australian trainer Richard Jolly. Poon was a hit in Australia, riding 117 wins Down Under. He was crowned South Australia Champion Apprentice in 2015/16.

Sent around as an outsider at odds of 33/1, six-year-old Straight Arron settled second last from barrier two as Red Lion (123lb) and Happy Together (123lb) took turns in the lead.

Beauty Joy made a mid-race move and assumed the front at the 800m mark, taking charge as the field swung for home. Race favourite Galaxy Patch (123lb) was blocked for a run in the straight and switched to the inside, rattling into second place with Straight Arron hugging the rail next to him. Moments In Time enjoyed a clear passage for third as Beauty Joy faded to fifth with Happy Together grabbing fourth position.

“It was an unbelievable result – a big surprise. The first half of the race didn’t really suit him at the tail and over the mile, I thought it will be a touch sharp for him. He still managed to run through on the rail with the jockey,” Yiu said.

“We were walking with the horse and he (Poon) said to me ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished in the first three’. I said ‘it would be a big surprise, especially over the trip’.”

Formerly a rising force who mixed it with champion galloper Romantic Warrior, Straight Arron’s win this afternoon – in a time of 1m 34.09s – is his first since late 2023. Since then, he has only placed once. His career-best effort across his 25-start Hong Kong career is a close-up fourth in the 2023 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

Yiu expects Straight Arron to next contest the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 27 April): “At this stage, most likely Champions Day over the mile. There’s only two options – 2000 (metres) or mile.”

The HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) is the alternative race on 27 April. Poon won the opener at Sha Tin today in tandem with Yiu atop Mighty Strength in the Class 4 Severn Handicap (2000m).