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Matthew Poon crowned 31st birthday celebrations in perfect style with a Sha Tin double capped by Green N White’s brilliant victory in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1400m) on Saturday (9 November).
Maintaining hopes of claiming one of two remaining berths in the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on 4 December, Poon continued an excellent season with victories aboard Ricky Yiu's Green N White and David Hall's Ka Ying Attack in the Class 4 Panasonic Smaller Multi-Split Air Conditioner Handicap (1200m).
Lightweight Poon was elated after wasting to ride Green N White at 113lb after the pair forged to a one and a quarter length victory over Packing Hermod (115lb) and Drombeg Banner (125lb) in 1m 20.34s, almost breaking Fantastic Treasure's class record of 1m 20.28.
Jumping cleanly from barrier two, Green N White enjoyed a trouble-free run behind leader Drombeg Banner before angling into the clear at the 150m and hitting the front 50 metres from the line.
"The barrier draw helped a lot because I reckon this field is a very strong field – most of the horses had a chance to win. Luckily, the pace was fast and, from the draw, I was able to get a good spot and he was able to finish off the race," Poon said.
"I'm very happy with this win and I got some birthday luck today I was three-deep the whole way on Ka Ying Attack, no cover, so I think it was pretty much the horse. He had improved mentally and physically since his first start. I think he will improve again from this run.
"I'm very happy and I need to thank my former boss (David Hall). It's been a long time since I have ridden a winner for him."
With 13 wins for the season, Poon is in fifth place in the Hong Kong jockeys' championship behind Zac Purton (35), Hugh Bowman (19), Vincent Ho (15) and Karis Teetan (13), who has more minor placings than Poon.
Poon is optimistic of joining the 12-jockey LONGINES IJC roster next month and, with Purton and Ho already in the line-up as last season's Hong Kong champion jockey and IJC champion, respectively, Poon is vying with Bowman, Teetan and Matthew Chadwick (11 wins) for the remaining spots.
Trainer Cody Mo is likely to resist the temptation to target the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 8 December with Magic Control after the gelding's short-head victory over John Size-trained Wunderbar in the Class 2 Panasonic Japan Made System Kitchen Handicap (1000m).
"I think the 1000m is better for him at the moment, but the next race I will probably try the 1200m in December – not the Hong Kong Sprint, though," Mo said. "In his first run for my stable, he ran a very good time and in the Group 3 he also ran a fast time, so I could see he had a lot of ability. The only concern for me in the race was John's horse (Wunderbar) but he did a good job."
Ridden by Matthew Chadwick, Magic Control – who won the G3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) as Archo Nacho in Australia for Matt Laurie – claimed his second win from four starts in Hong Kong and also collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million for his latest victory.
Chadwick said: "It was a nice win, he (Magic Control) did what we expected him to do. He still gets himself a bit hot, he just keeps sweating, but he had a nice smooth run, which is what we wanted, and we tried to catch a bit of a break off the second horse (Wunderbar) and it panned out nicely."
Mo also combined with Teetan to land the Class 4 Panasonic Mini LED TV Handicap (1200m) with Hong Kong International Sale graduate Patch Of Time as apprentice Britney Wong notched her fourth win of the season with a well-judged ride on Manfred Man's Spangle Fortune in the Class 5 Panashop Handicap (1650m, dirt).
Danny Shum-trained Joyful Prosperity fought tenaciously under Zac Purton to overhaul Jubilation in the Class 4 Panasonic Smart Lock Handicap (2000m) before Pierre Ng (18 wins) stretched his lead at the top of the trainers' championships with Excel Wongchoy under Vincent Ho in the Class 4 Panasonic IH Warm Jar Handicap (1650m, dirt).
Purton posted a brace when Savvy Brilliant stormed home to capture the Class 3 Panasonic 2-In-1 Washer Dryer Handicap (1200m) for Frankie Lor, who closed the meeting with a race-to-race double as Voyage Samurai continued his exceptional consistency by winning the Class 3 Panasonic Thermo Ventilator Handicap (1600m) under Derek Leung.
The Dissident gelding improved his overall record to four wins and three seconds from seven starts for earnings of HK$4.7 million.
Lyle Hewitson prevailed aboard the Douglas Whyte-trained Strathpeffer narrowly over Legend St Paul's in the Class 4 Panasonic Ziaino Air Treatment Handicap (1400m).
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (13 November).