Chau trying to avoid stewards’ sights as wins flow
Apprentice Jerry Chau Chunlok rode his first winner as a five-pound claimer at Sha Tin yesterday and the 21-year-old says he will spend the rest of the season focusing on avoiding the wrath of stewards after a string of suspensions.
Chau booted home a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, ringing up his 45th winner in the process and seeing his claim drop from seven pounds to five.
It did little to slow him down, with the jockey delivering aboard First Responder for his master Douglas Whyte yesterday to move to 40 winners for the season.
“Claiming five is a new step but my career is only just starting, there is still a long way to go. A big thank you to my boss for giving me very good support,” said Chau, adding that his first year as a jockey has been a constant learning curve.
“I’m learning about the mindset that is required, that if you train hard and work hard the luck will come.”
Chau has a suspension coming up later this month but after that, it’s continuity that he craves.
“I’m trying to be aware of shifting in or shifting out, I’m just trying to keep straight and not interfere with other jockeys. Suspensions break my momentum and it’s not easy to pick it up again,” he said.
It was at this meeting a year ago that Chau began his Hong Kong career with a double and he says the past 12 months have been a roller coaster.
“The beginning was a bit tough because I got two winners on my first day and after that it was a bit quiet and the pressure started to come,” the jockey said. “I needed to take time to adjust to the pressure and this season I have got better and better.”
Whyte outlined on Wednesday night his belief that claiming only five pounds will help Chau because he can accept lighter rides and the jockey is looking forward to being able to stick with more of his winners.
“Before if a horse went up in class after winning the weight was difficult to ride because it was so low but now claiming five I should still be able to ride some of these horses going up in class,” he said.
First Responder’s victory in the Class Four Daphne Handicap (1,200m) was his second for Whyte after joining the South African’s stable from John Moore last season, with Chau working his way to the front from barrier 11 and leading throughout.
“In Class Four he is a very competitive horse. He tried very hard and he settled nicely in the lead and he gave me a great kick in the straight,” Chau said.
Whyte finished the day with a double, also saluting with Super Ten in the Class Three Celosia Handicap (1,400m).