Dylan Mo hit a landmark 70 and Dennis Yip a milestone 700 thanks to The Show’s wide surge down the Happy Valley straight on Wednesday night.
Mo was elated as he swept past the winning-post half a length ahead of runner-up Super Euro Star and saluted the victory that sealed his graduation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School.
“I’m very happy, it’s very exciting,” Mo said, face beaming and adrenaline still fizzing, after receiving his graduation silver platter and sash.
“After the win I just saluted. I enjoyed it and it was very exciting!”
Mo’s 70th win, in the Class 4 Broom Handicap (1200m), came two years and two months after his first aboard the deliciously-named Fish N’ Chips.
Yip, meanwhile, arrived at his 700th score in his 17th season with a licence. The popular local handler enjoyed the biggest night of his career at Happy Valley almost six years ago when he claimed the champion trainer title on the dramatic final day of the 2012/13 season.
“It’s another step,” he said. “Every winner is difficult to get in Hong Kong and it’s taken me 17 seasons. Today he was drawn a little bit wide but the horse was in very good condition so I used the kid and I told him to jump fast, get him comfortable and then try for the best.”
Mo was forced to suffer a three-wide alley in midfield after breaking from gate 10 but
the New Zealand-bred The Show was game for the challenge. The eight-year-old’s momentum was rolling as he swung even wider into the straight and maintained his run to the wire.
“I just rode him around horses and I could feel he was coming home very strong. I just rode him through the line,” Mo said
“I was half-and-half about whether I was going to get the win; sometimes the front-runners are hard to catch-up so I was just doing it step-by-step.”
And step-by-step is how Mo will continue: “I will keep going; try my best; keep working hard!” -HKJC