CHADWICK AND POON GUEST SPEAKERS AT SINGAPORE TURF CLUB'S APPRENTICE JOCKEY WORKSHOP

By Singapore Turf Club (Michael Lee) | Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Visiting Hong Kong riders Matthew Chadwick and Matthew Poon were the two guest speakers at an apprentice jockey workshop organised by Singapore Turf Club Riding Master Damien Kinninmont on Wednesday.

The two-hour long event was attended by 12 Kranji-based apprentice jockeys, including 2016 champion Wong Chin Chuen and recently-licensed and former New Zealand-based apprentice jockey Zy Nor Azman, all wide-eyed and eager to listen to two of Hong Kong’s better-known local jockeys in recent times.

The New South Wales-trained Chadwick, 26, was a former champion apprentice jockey in the former British colony and has long been regarded as the best local rider since the great Tony Cruz. His association with former champion California Memory has set many records, including giving Chadwick the distinction of becoming the first local jockey to win the Hong Kong Cup in 2011 (they doubled up the next year).

At 23, Poon is only three years younger, but because he only began his riding career two years ago, he obviously does not boast as glittering a resume as Chadwick.

There are some similarities, though. Likewise, he was a product of the Beas River Riding School in Hong Kong before charting the same Australian (albeit in Adelaide) path to hone his craft, also making a huge impact Down Under. He even earned himself the nickname of “Poon Train” among his legion of Australian fans, before returning home to continue his career in Hong Kong.

Kinninmont said the local apprentice jockeys could only benefit from catching a slice of their journeys – from the tough beginnings to the dizzy heights of success – and hopefully, be inspired in getting the same drive in their riding careers.

“We’ve done workshops like these before, first with Glen Boss back in 2012. Saimee Jumaat also came once when he was still a jockey,” recalled the Perth-born former jockey who also acts as the chief starter at the Singapore Turf Club.

“Last year, we had Vlad Duric, Corey Brown, Michael Rodd and Glen Boss all in one sitting. They are all top jockeys in their own right, all came through a rigorous training and lots of sacrifice to reach where they are now.

“For our kids to get the chance to listen to them, whether it’s just a few tricks to improve their riding, or raise their safety awareness, it’s priceless help.

“And it was the same today with the two Matty’s sitting there and talking to them.”

Various aspects were touched on, but a significant one was the overseas exposure that both Chadwick and Poon got and how it has improved them as jockeys by leaps and bounds. Currently, the Singapore Turf Club has an overseas placement programme for our apprentice jockeys in Australia and New Zealand.

After speaking briefly about his time in Coffs Harbour and Queensland, Chadwick handed out some precious nuggets on how he had to wear his “business hat” once he switched base to Hong Kong.

“It’s a business. You have to chase trainers and go through the daily routine. It’s a commitment you must have if you want to succeed,” he said.

“You can only hope that chance will come to you one day, and it could then be like a chain reaction. The day starts from the moment you get up.

“I message trainers all the time, it goes round and round. Even before coming here, I did that and you just hope the opportunity will come.

“If you fail, you get back up. At the end of the day, you just want to do things the best possible way, and it comes down to hard work.

“With time, it will make you a better rider, a better person.”

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Poon has obviously had less mileage as a rider, but with around 100 winners under the belt, including 36 in the metropolitan area in South Australia and 22 winners at his recent Hong Kong debut since March, it was a meteoric rise which would certainly raise the envy of all the apprentice jockeys seated around him.

The Poon Train never blew his own horn, though.

“I was just like you guys, a bit lost at the beginning, but in Australia, things happened really fast and you have to adapt and learn, plus I had a bit of luck as well,” said the well-grounded and humble young man.

“I won on a longshot, a horse nobody expected to win, and that put me on the map. Things have gone better and better since.

“When I returned to Hong Kong, it was a different set-up for sure, but I didn’t go around thinking they are better jockeys or whatever. I just go out there and do the best I can, and things have been pretty good back home as well.”

The rest of the morning was spent watching video replays of some of the apprentices’ riding mistakes, with inputs from the riding master as well as the two riders, mostly from the more experienced Chadwick.

“The senior jockeys are pros, they know how to avoid or minimise interferences, but if they come back after a race and tell you off, don’t take it the wrong way,” said Kinninmont.

“They are all out there to help you, but sometimes you have to help yourself. You must not look at it as negative, it’s all about improving you as a better and safer rider.”

Kinninmont has already scheduled the next speaker – just-licensed New Zealand jockey Craig Grylls.

“I want to give the boys as wide a background of different jockeys as possible. Craig is the typical farmer boy who has made it into the big league,” said Kinninmont.

“He even has his own pilot’s licence and flies to the different tracks for his rides. So, it’s different and refreshing, and will definitely be interesting to listen to his story.”