Apprentice Nichola Yuen continued a seamless introduction into Hong Kong racing with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 April), maintaining a perfect record of riding winners across each of her first three meetings in the city so far.

Yuen, 25, notched her first brace in Hong Kong with victories for her master Ricky Yiu aboard a pair of Hong Kong debutantes – Flashing Fighter (117lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Hart Handicap (1200m) and Fortune Link (113lb) in the Class 3 Jordan Handicap (1400m).

The double catapulted Yuen to a shared victory in the afternoon’s Jockey Challenge along with Group 1-winning senior rider Brenton Avdulla, who also rode a brace. After a trio of fixtures, she is the fastest female rider to land the Jockey Challenge. 

“First of all, thank you so much to Ricky and Eric (Yiu), they give me so many opportunities and it is great to have my first double here in Sha Tin and especially for my boss,” Yuen said. “I want to thank The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Apprentices’ (Jockeys) School, Miss Amy Chan and Mr Felix Coetzee.

“They have given me great support, and I am very fortunate to be here in this on this very big stage and to have a great performance on good horses.”

Fortune Link, who raced under the same name in Australia for trainer Greg Eurell, earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million, propelling Yiu to 30 winners for the season.

Brenton Avdulla matched Yuen’s feat with a double on Douglas Whyte-trained Bling Bling Genius (133lb) in the Class 5 Gillies Handicap (1600m) and David Hayes’ My Mars (121lb), who impressed with debut victory in the Class 3 Parkes Handicap (1200m) to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.

Formerly known as Unbreakable Duke when trained in Ireland by Diego Dias, My Mars defeated a talented field with a performance which delighted Hayes.

“It was an amazing effort,” Hayes said. “It was a great ride by Brenton, but it really was a superb effort by this young horse. A European horse on first run in Hong Kong, they usually can’t do it (win), and when they do, they might be pretty good.

“In a couple of his races (in Ireland), he wasn’t well ridden – I just thought he went to the front too soon. He’s got the right brain for Hong Kong – he’s very calm, he’s strong, he eats, and to win in that short time of being in Hong Kong, is an incredible effort.”

Mark Newnham edged to a one-win lead in the trainers’ championship over Caspar Fownes with Crimson Flash’s (127lb) triumph in the Class 2 Pilkem Handicap (1200m) under Andrea Atzeni.

Newnham has 48 wins for the campaign to lead a congested table from Fownes (47), David Hayes (42), Danny Shum (42), Francis Lui (41) and John Size (35).

Formerly known as He’s In Like Flynn when and trained by Blake Ryan in Australia, Crimson Flash took his overall Hong Kong record to five wins and two seconds from 13 starts for prizemoney of HK$10.5 million.

“He’s a good horse and he’s still improving – you could see when he first goes under pressure he tends to lift his head a little bit and it wasn’t until the last part of the race where he really let down well,” Newnham said.

“He’s still learning and is building a good record. He’s shown today that he’s capable around the bend at Sha Tin; he’s pretty versatile, he’s now won round the corner, up the straight and at Happy Valley, too.”

Chris So notched his 250th win on Sha Tin turf when Elite Golf (135lb) posted a brave win in the second section of the Class 4 Hart Handicap (1200m). Conceding 21lb to Leading Dragon (114lb) under Yuen, the Frosted three-year-old edged clear late under Harry Bentley to underline his talent.

“The horse has got ability, but he’s still very green. In the last couple of runs, just like last time in the straight, Harry just told me that he seems like he lost – he’s just waiting for somebody,” So said.

“He got a great run today and he got a good draw (barrier five). He’s pretty straightforward, the instructions are easy; we go forward, maybe first three, four. Because he’s got gate speed and we got a good draw it was easy to plan, not much strategy, just try to go in front or the first three.

“We have to give him a bit of time to grow mentally and he needs to mature.”

John Size and Alexis Badel combined with Alabama Song (117lb) to snare the Class 4 Kowloon Cricket Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1400m) after staving off the late challenge of Forza Toro (131lb), who failed by a head after missing the start.

Lui maintained hopes of a second Hong Kong trainers’ championship with the success of Amazing Partners (123lb) under Vincent Ho in the Class 3 Humphreys Handicap (1600m).

“He’s become much more relaxed and has improved – the step up in distance has really suited him. I think he still has a bit more to offer, and I think he could step out in distance again,” Lui said.

“I hope there is more winners to come and of course, I would like to win another championship. It all depends on how the young horses perform later in the season – it’s very important.”

Zac Purton struck aboard Dennis Yip’s French-bred Toronado three-year-old Perfect One (126lb) in the Bowring Plate (1000m) for Griffins before He Was Me (124lb) clinched the Class 5 Gascoigne Handicap (1400m) for Tony Cruz and Karis Teetan, while Hong Kong International Sale graduate Happy Boss (135lb) scored for David Eustace and Luke Ferraris in the second section of the Class 4 Cox’s Handicap (1400m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (15 April).