St Yazin prevails to give Gary Ng a double with Ben So aboard.
HKJC
It was a triumphant return to Happy Valley for local rider Ben So tonight (Wednesday, 23 November) as he scored on St Yazin (NZ) (Keeper) and Sunny Win at just his second meeting back from a medically-induced absence.
So had last ridden at the city track on 5 October, with his last ride that night a win on Peter Ho-trained Ten Flames.
However, a fall at the Sha Tin meeting on 8 October ruled the effervescent 29-year-old out for over a month, the jockey only making his return to race riding last Sunday.
"I'm very happy to be back!" So exclaimed after initially winning on St Yazin (114lb) in the first section of the Class 3 Kowloon City Handicap (1200m) before adding another on Sunny Win (116lb) in the second division of the Class 3 Hung Hom Handicap (1650m). "Coming back after a month off, and at just my second meeting back, to get a winner so quick is exciting. And two, amazing, very lucky."
Gary Ng-trained St Yazin required the entire length of the short Happy Valley straight to reel in the leaders under So as he won by a nose over Arm Runda.
St Yazin had never won at 1200m at any track from 16 previous attempts in Hong Kong, but So said it was just simply a matter of getting the pace set-up he required.
"He is a horse that needs pace, and tonight, the pace really helped a lot as they went really fast," he said. "I didn't use him too much, I just sat back from the gate and it made his job easier. He has always been the same – he has a good sprint but he needs the speed. Maybe that's why he has been better at 1000m."
Eight-year-old St Yazin, who was purchased from the 2010 NZB Ready to Run Sale for $60,000, was the second leg of a "pair of eights" double for Ng after he earlier struck with fellow veteran Double Master in the opening race, the Class 5 San Po Kong Handicap (1000m).
So had last ridden at the city track on 5 October, with his last ride that night a win on Peter Ho-trained Ten Flames.
However, a fall at the Sha Tin meeting on 8 October ruled the effervescent 29-year-old out for over a month, the jockey only making his return to race riding last Sunday.
"I'm very happy to be back!" So exclaimed after initially winning on St Yazin (114lb) in the first section of the Class 3 Kowloon City Handicap (1200m) before adding another on Sunny Win (116lb) in the second division of the Class 3 Hung Hom Handicap (1650m). "Coming back after a month off, and at just my second meeting back, to get a winner so quick is exciting. And two, amazing, very lucky."
Gary Ng-trained St Yazin required the entire length of the short Happy Valley straight to reel in the leaders under So as he won by a nose over Arm Runda.
St Yazin had never won at 1200m at any track from 16 previous attempts in Hong Kong, but So said it was just simply a matter of getting the pace set-up he required.
"He is a horse that needs pace, and tonight, the pace really helped a lot as they went really fast," he said. "I didn't use him too much, I just sat back from the gate and it made his job easier. He has always been the same – he has a good sprint but he needs the speed. Maybe that's why he has been better at 1000m."
Eight-year-old St Yazin, who was purchased from the 2010 NZB Ready to Run Sale for $60,000, was the second leg of a "pair of eights" double for Ng after he earlier struck with fellow veteran Double Master in the opening race, the Class 5 San Po Kong Handicap (1000m).