The steadfast partnership of Dylan Mo Hin-tung and Winning Wing will seek Group Three glory in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Mo has been in the saddle for every one of Winning Wing’s 17 career starts in Hong Kong, with three of Mo’s four wins this term being aboard the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained son of Preferment.

Mo is looking forward to seeing the five-year-old step out over the 2,400m trip for the first time, where the local jockey believes we could see the best of him.

“I think he’s a long-distance horse. I think he has more opportunity to have a good chance in this race,” Mo said.

“Because it’s the first time for Winning Wing trying out 2,400m, it’s also a trial for him to test his ability to take on such a long distance. I’m quite confident in this race based on the morning track work with Winning Wing. It’s some sort of a trial still, but I’m confident.”

Winning Wing provided Mo with a rare Group One opportunity in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m), where they were rewarded with a third placing behind 14-time Group One winner Romantic Warrior and Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) winner Ensued.

On a day where the hometown heroes of Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising were front and centre, Mo and Winning Wing were greeted in the parade ring with cheers from the crowd which followed them down to the barriers.

“That was a big highlight. It was a great honour to be able to compete with Romantic Warrior. Romantic Warrior is a world-class horse, but I think Winning Wing is still improving,” Mo said.

“Romantic Warrior is more a 2,000m horse but Winning Wing is more a longer distance horse. Based on the bloodlines, they are a different type of horse.”

The New Zealand-bred import raced once in Australia, recording a victory over 1,000m, before being brought to Hong Kong where three of his four wins have been over 2,000m.

The combination has been victorious in Class Two company this season when beating Prestige Good by a short head, with Winning Wing now rated 96 after catapulting through the grades since winning in Class Three company over 2,000m off a mark of 70.

Mo has forged a formidable relationship with Winning Wing’s owner, Johnny Yau Ying-chuen, who regularly checks in with the jockey on Winning Wing’s progress.

“I’m very good friends with the owner, Mr Yau, and he’s given good support to me. Sometimes during morning track work, we will communicate about the recent performance of the horse, whether there are any improvements,” Mo said.

“I have close contact with Mr Yau. Sometimes when Mr Yau goes to the stable to visit the horse, I will come along to discuss the latest [track work] performance. We’re very good friends, very close friends.”

It is very rare that Winning Wing works in the mornings without Mo, who is always focused on getting the best result for his partner.

“I don’t want to miss a morning because Winning Wing likes me to ride him,” Mo said.

“In morning track work we are good partners. We want to try and perform on race day to show the audience what we did, how we prepared, and how we trained in the morning track work – and then perform to the audience.”

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