HK: NEIL CALLAN AND ALMOND LEE SCORE FIRST WINS OF THE SEASON AS JUNZI AND LE PEGASE SALUTE

By Hong Kong Jockey Club (Andrew Hawkins) | Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Wednesday night’s (27 September) Happy Valley card marked a milestone for rider Neil Callan, who found the winners’ circle for the first time this season aboard Chris So-trained Junzi.

“I told you all not to panic! Go with the flow,” the Irishman quipped as he returned aboard Junzi, a length and a quarter winner of the Class 4 Osmanthus Handicap (1000m).

The five-year-old won his first race of last season over the Happy Valley 1000m, but didn’t get closer than sixth in seven subsequent starts last term, and So said that fresh is likely best for the son of Red Giant.

“He is quite a small horse and he doesn’t hold his condition easily, he lightens off after he races,” So said. “So I think we’ll space his runs out. Also, he didn’t have much space to move with his rating last season, but off a rating of 48, he was going to be competitive.”

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Callan was not the only person to score a first win for the term, with trainer Almond Lee becoming the final handler to get on the board this season.

Lee won with 55/1 shot Le Pegase in the Class 5 Magnolia Handicap (1650m), Keith Yeung producing a stellar ride to get the lowly-rated galloper home by a neck.

Earlier, trainer Paul O’Sullivan was relieved to get a win from Diamond Legend, who scored his first Hong Kong win at start 11 under Sam Clipperton in the Class 4 Begonia Handicap (1200m).

The blueblood, by More Than Ready out of Group 1 winner Aqua d’Amore, had won two of his three starts in New Zealand but had struggled to adapt to Hong Kong life since his arrival in March, 2016.

“He’s a nice horse now, but he took a long time to acclimatise – he was very disappointing when he first arrived,” O’Sullivan said. “The owners have been very patient. He started to come around last season though, his last run was good and his trial was solid. My only concern today was the barrier (11), but that didn’t end up being an issue as he went back and there was pace on.

“I don’t think the field today was too strong, but I think he’s the sort of horse who will hold his own up in Class 3. He’s a fair way down at the moment and he’s still developing but in time, he’ll get there.”

Apprentice Matthew Poon also continued his strong start to the season with a win aboard Ricky Yiu’s Outlawed in the Class 3 Verbena Handicap (1650m).

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