Wong takes aim at Asian Young Guns Challenge

27/08/2015

Jack Wong will aim to enhance Hong Kong’s fine record in the annual Asian Young Guns Challenge when he takes his place among 11 of the most exciting young riders in the Asia region at Seoul Racecourse, Korea on Saturday, 29 August.

Derek Leung (2010) and Alvin Ng (2012) triumphed previously for Hong Kong in the series that has been staged each year since 2009. This time it is the turn of Wong to represent, the apprentice having caught the eye with nine wins last term following his Hong Kong debut in March.

Wong, 21, will join fellow apprentices from Australia, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea, Macau and Malaysia in the four-race contest. Each rider was allocated their mounts at a draw ceremony held earlier today (Thursday, 27 August).

“Judging from the responses of those in attendance this morning, among my four rides in the competition it seems my last two rides, Pincat and Yeondu, should both have a chance to win,” said Wong.

Hong Kong’s participant will ride Muhandoma in the competition’s opener, a 1000m Class 4 handicap. Super Lightning is his mount in the second heat, a 1400m Class 4, while the filly Pincat will hopefully gain him points in the third leg, a 1200m Class 5. Wong will partner Yeondu in the finale, the feature Singapore Turf Club Trophy, an open contest over 1400m.

Points will be allocated to jockeys whose horses finish in the first eight positions, ranging from 25 points for a win to 1 point for eighth as follows – 1st: 25; 2nd: 15; 3rd: 10; 4th: 7;  5th: 5; 6th: 3; 7th: 2; 8th: 1 (if a horse is scratched, the affected rider will be awarded 6 points).

The four races will all be staged on Seoul’s sand track and this year’s Asian Young Guns Challenge will conclude with the KRW150 million Singapore Turf Club Trophy.

Asian Young Guns 2015 competitors