Matthew Poon Ends Winless Run on Gracious Express

Matthew Poon Ming’s Sunday at Sha Tin was dominated by the feelings of relief and satisfaction after the Hong Kong jockey broke his unfortunate streak of 141 consecutive rides without a win. With his victory on Gracious Express in the Class Three Wo Che Handicap , he made it back to the winner’s circle after the long dry spell that had tested his patience and persistence.

Matthew Poon’s last success came on June 4 at Happy Valley with Keefy. Since then, the talented rider endured a challenging period where consistency and near misses failed to translate into wins. That all changed when he guided Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Gracious Express to a hard-earned victory, overcoming a wide draw and moderate pre-race odds.

“This is a huge relief,” Poon said briefly after the weigh-in. “I’ve been chasing this victory for a very long time. It wasn’t my expectation to get it today but I am really happy it came. I hope this will bring some good luck for future meetings.”

Matthew Poon’s dry spell was probably one of the longest times he hadn’t won during his whole career. In fact, over the last few weeks, he had nearly won several times but luck and timing were not on his side. So his performance on Sunday was, in fact, both a display of his sheer will and his natural ability.

Hong Kong race result from barrier 14, Gracious Express was given a patient ride by Matthew Poon, who settled the gelding midfield with cover. The plan was to keep the four-year-old relaxed before asking for an effort in the straight.

“It was a little tricky from the draw,” Matthew Poon said. “I was hoping to get three deep with cover. I managed that early on, but at the 600 metres I lost it. I just had to keep him comfortable and balanced. Once he found his rhythm, he hit the line strongly.”

That composure paid off. Gracious Express, sent out at $28, produced a strong late run to hold off Everyone’s Star by half a length, rewarding both Matthew Poon and trainer Yiu with a much-needed win.

Yiu, who has worked closely with Matthew Poon for several seasons, expressed confidence in the jockey even during the dry spell. The veteran trainer said he never lost belief in Matthew Poon’s ability and was pleased to see the persistence finally yield a Hong Kong race result.

Yiu said that he kept supporting Matthew with his help as he knew what he was able to do.” “He’s been putting in the hard work and showing good form, but sometimes you need that bit of luck.” “Today, everything came together.”

Yiu, who has been gaining a lot of positive energy from several up-and-coming gallopers, also kept a bright beginning of his new season with this victory. Gracious Express, who performed decently by finishing fifth at Happy Valley on October 8, made it clear in his mind with the way he ran at Sha Tin.

Matthew Poon’s win is not just another mark on his career record. It brings back the belief in himself and gives him a feeling of the right way after a few months of his being upset. Being one of Hong Kong’s young but still quite experienced jockeys, Matthew Poon has been very much looking forward to getting back his pace which used to take him to the top of the local riders’ ranking again.

“It has been difficult, but this is the kind of period that any jockey has to go through,” he said. “I only made an attempt to stay focused and keep my working spirit up.” “The support from trainers and owners has been very important.”

Quietly and steadily, Matthew Poon was always behind the scenes with his work ethic and calm nature. It is usually his tenacity that gets referred by most people in the racing industry. The win at Sha Tin which has been anticipated for a very long time will probably not only increase his self-assurance but also make his name more visible when the hectic autumn racing season comes.

Gracious Express, too, appears to be heading in the right direction. The son of Churchill has shown steady improvement since joining Yiu’s stable, and Sunday’s win suggests further progress is on the horizon.

“He’s still learning,” Yiu commented. “But he’s honest and tries hard. Today, even with the wide draw, he fought all the way to the line. It’s a good sign for his next runs.”

It is likely that the teamwork of Matthew Poon and Yiu will bring about more victory in the next weeks as the pair of horse and jockey are now both in shape again.

After a hard engagement, Sha Tin‘s meeting event was a major psychological change for the Matthew Poon jockey, who as of now he can with a refreshed confidence look forward. One win alone may not be able to alter the whole season’s figures dramatically, but such wins are many times referred to as a point of conversion.

“I merely wish to continue the winning streak,” he stated. “Typically, one might see their confidence a little faltering when the situation is not in their favor. Yet, the success, in fact, is so revelatory, as if lots were taken off one’s shoulders, and one can then think more on the following stretch.”

Matthew Poon’s endlessly patient fight throughout the first three-quarters of the Hong Kong racing season leads one to consider how the difference between winning and losing can sometimes be just a matter of inches in this sport, which is the very nature of it. After 141 times without a win, success has finally come, and it is therefore no doubt that both Matt Poon and Gracious Express will now be able to see the future in a more optimistic way.