Chadwick Keeps Poon on Toes

Homegrown talents in the heat of battle for Tony Cruz Award

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HONG KONG – The battle for the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong's leading homegrown jockey intensified at Happy Valley on June 25, when Matthew Chadwick's double pushed him to within two wins of Matthew Poon, with only six meetings left in the 2024/25 season.

Chadwick boosted his season's tally to 34 – compared to Poon's 36 – with wins on the Cruz-trained Superb Capitalist in the HK$1.86 million (S$303,000) Class 3 St George's Challenge Cup Handicap (1,000m) and Me Tsui's Another Zonda in the HK$2.05 million Class 3 Renfrew Handicap (1,650m).

Winner of the Tony Cruz Award in 2021/22, Chadwick has steadily cut into Poon's lead with seven wins from the last nine meetings, and is poised to continue the challenge ahead of the season finale on July 16.

“We'll see what happens, we'll try our best. I'm just trying to pick up better rides. The fields are getting smaller, everyone's riding well and it's harder to get rides,” said Chadwick.

“You've just got to make them count when they come. Hopefully, I can get some more decent rides.”

Superb Capitalist ($23) notched his fifth victory at Happy Valley – and sixth overall – before Another Zonda ($54) scored his first win at the city circuit after previously triumphing at Sha Tin.