Speak to Hong Kong horse racing fans about the best home-grown riding talent, not withstanding the legend that is now champion Trainer Tony Cruz, and the answer, more often than not, is Matthew Chadwick.
Having said this, as with most things to do with horse racing in the city, there’s something of a reluctance to actually admit this. One can only guess this has to do with not making comparisons with other jockeys and which might prove awkward. Maybe.
Despite being a very big fan of Derek Leung, and, this season seeing a revitalised and re-energised Vincent Ho riding after a stress-free working holiday in Japan, at least to me, Matthew Chadwick, 32, is the best Hong Kong born rider plying his trade in the city.
When he produced the winning ride that he did last Sunday on the David Hayes trained runner Star Contact, and for the Australian Hall Of Famer to label it, “As good a ride as you’ll ever see” and how, “That’s what won the race”, I let out a quiet, but satisfying inner whoop.
I usually save those whoops for types of Happy Endings other than those to do with horse racing.
Living in Hong Kong, it’s difficult not to get involved with horse racing somewhere along the way.
It was during one of these times did Matthew Chadwick, a graduate of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentices’ School, create a name for himself when he returned to Hong Kong from Australia.
This was after a very successful tour of duty riding in places like Lismore and Beaudesert before returning for the 2008-9 Hong Kong season as a ten-pound claiming apprentice indentured to the Tony Cruz stable.
As an 18-year old, and riding against names like Gerald Mosse, Douglas Whyte, Felix Coetzee, Eric Saint Martin and others, he hit the ground running, and very quickly became one of the most successful jockeys riding here.
Many saw him as “the new Tony Cruz”, and he was living up to these comparisons by riding winners including including his first Group race aboard Egyptian Ra.
The problem is that with prodigious young talent in any industry there’s always the danger of them somehow losing the plot and going off the rails.
It’s no secret that young Matthew Chadwick hit a few bumps along the way including one sickening fall.
Still, he will always be associated with the Group 1 win in the 2011 Hong Kong Cup aboard California Memory, below. He also got a hug from actress Kate Winslet.
He was also the first jockey to be associated with the enigmatic and wonderfully interesting Pakistan Star.
As history was to prove, Matthew Chadwick should never ever have lost that ride. It was knee jerk reaction that made quite a few look damn silly.
Pakistan Star simply didn’t want to be a racehorse. He had a greater calling in life- like helping those who need a friend and which he’s doing today at Living Legends.
Last season, after some time away from receiving the support of his former boss, the successful firm were back together riding winners with Matthew Chadwick winning the Tony Cruz Award.
This covered award among homegrown talent is given each season to the most successful Hong Kong-born rider.
Though admitting at the start of this season that he’s struggling for good rides, he’s not busy feeling sorry for himself and being a Yesterday’s Man.
With his young family around him, he’s in a happy place. It’s something very good to see.
As for race riding, no one wants to go around on no-hopers, and like everyone else, Matthew Chadwick has to take the good with the bad. He knows it.
With the win last weekend on Star Contact, it should lead to more winning opportunities from David Hayes and his powerful stable.
It also doesn’t take an Einstein to know that when it comes to Hong Kong racing, other than winning on the track, it’s often about putting even greater time and effort into winning over the support system from owners needed to keep delivering the goods with great regularity.
Often, one is only as good as their last winner as people have short memories.
Sure, it’s not fair. But no one said that life is fair.
It’s about determination, motivation and absolute confidence in one’s talent.
Matthew Chadwick certainly has all these attributes going for him.
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