Jerry Chau Chun-lok will look to extend his Tony Cruz Award lead on Wednesday night at Happy Valley with a strong book of rides that includes Emblazon in the Class Two Thistle Handicap (1,200m).

Chau finished the 2024-25 term with 23 winners, but already this season has secured 37 victories and sits fourth in the jockeys’ championship with two months still to go until the end of the term.

“I’m not doing too much different – I just try hard, work hard and ask for the support. This season maybe I’ve got more luck, everything seems to be getting better. I just stay the same, work hard and be focused,” Chau said.

Chau is currently seven wins ahead of the next best local jockey, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, who edged him out to win the 2020-21 Tony Cruz Award in a battle that lasted until the final race meeting.

“I’ve always wanted to get the Tony Cruz Award. My second year riding in Hong Kong, I got 58 winners that season and I thought, one month before, ‘I think I really can get this’. The last day, Vincent got two winners right away and the award was gone,” Chau said.

“Hopefully this season I can just keep getting winners. But the important thing for me is to ride a good race and then the results will come.”

Wednesday night will see the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained Emblazon drop back to 1,200m after contesting the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) two starts ago.

“Cody’s way of thinking was that he could enter him in the Derby, and we both thought we should have a try, but the result was he couldn’t get there. But he came back healthy and he feels great now and I think he can start again,” Chau said.

The son of Zoustar has recorded an impressive five wins from 10 starts and will take on the city circuit for the first time when he jumps from barrier one.

“I’m not worried about him handling the track. I’m happy with his form now and I think he will handle it very well. Cody put the cheek pieces on to make sure he concentrates and hopefully barrier one can help him to keep up,” Chau said.

Flying Wrote will look to turn the tables on Giant Ballon in the Class Three Violet Handicap (1,200m) after being beaten by a head last start at the track and trip.

The Tony Cruz-trained galloper has yet to win in Class Three company, but has been racing well in the grade.

“He’s improved this season, he’s getting more settled and he’s able to use his ability now. I think I will use the same tactics, just let him jump and see where he can be,” Chau said.

Do Your Part has been incredibly honest for Francis Lui Kin-wai, recording a win and eight placings from nine starts this season, and lines up in the Class Three Hyacinth Handicap (1,650m) with Chau in the saddle for the first time from barrier 11.

“He has a very good record at Happy Valley, but this time we’ve drawn outside and it’s a big challenge for him. I watched his race replays at Happy Valley, I think he’s got very good gate speed and I think I will use it and try to just get to the front, somewhere where I can travel and settle,” Chau said.

Chau will take the reins on the consistent Bits Superstar for the first time this season in the Class Four EWO Challenge Trophy (1,000m) for David Hall. The Capitalist galloper drops back in distance in a strong field, but has the advantage of barrier one.

“I’ve ridden him before and I think he’s a very one-paced horse. He’s a short-distance horse, but he needs to be up in front,” Chau said.

“This season he looks like he’s changed – showing more speed now and able to chase the other horses a bit. I’m really looking forward to the draw helping him and I can be hopefully sitting one or two horses behind, or even lead.”

Chau will partner the Mark Newnham-trained Fatal Blow for the third consecutive time in the second section of the Class Four Dendrobium Handicap (1,200m), with both of the Russian Revolution gelding’s career wins being at the course and distance.

“Last start he was very unlucky – he still stayed on very well and I think his form is very good and hopefully this time we can get better luck and get the job done,” Chau said.

Chau will employ the same tactics as last start when running third on Sure Joyful when they take on the second section of the Class Four Dandelion Handicap (1,650m) for Ricky Yiu Poon-fai.

“Last time I told Ricky ‘I think the race doesn’t have much pace – if I jump fast, can I go forward?’ and he agreed. We went forward and got a very good result. I think this time we will try to copy the same tactics, if the pace is slow we can just hold the front and control the race,” Chau said.

Chau reunites with Aestheticism in the second section of the Class Four Dandelion Handicap, where the son of Derryn will look to score for the first time this season when jumping from barrier two.

“He needs the perfect race, he needs to get a very nice rhythm in the early stages and I think the draw can help us do that,” Chau said.

The David Eustace-trained Majestic Delight returns to Happy Valley where he’ll look to strike over 1,000m in the Class Five Celosia Handicap.

“He’s very competitive in Class Five and Happy Valley might be even be better for him, because I think when he gets to the lead he can have a look around and maybe slow down, but I think the short straight can help him just hit the front and then to get to the end,” Chau said.

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