Confidence is a wonderful and magical elixir. It’s something aspirational and often makes one believe that anything and everything is possible. It’s like a Nike advertising slogan.
After knowing that he had ridden his third winner of the night at Happy Valley yesterday when Adios saluted, one was reminded of first being told about “The Poon Train” during a trip to Australia.
That weekend, “The Poon Train” was firing on all cylinders at Morphetville, and it was understandable why Matthew Poon was not only popular, but somewhat of a cult figure in South Australia.
He had a bubbly personality, his enthusiasm was infectious, he was very well liked by the media, he had the highly respected Richard Jolly as his trainer and master in Oz, and more to the point, this Hong Kong-born talent could ride.
His return to Hong Kong as an apprentice was not easy. Finding one’s groove and trying to figure out so many things as quickly as possible as expectations are so high in the most competitive racing jurisdiction in the world is never easy.
Hong Kong isn’t Kansas, Toto, nor is it Morphetville.
After coming up against a number of bumps in the road, getting derailed and learning through trial and error and the guidance of Trainer David Hall to whom he was indentured, this racing season, though still early days, and with names like Joao Moreira and, for a while more, Karis Teetan sidelined, Matthew Poon has the space to shine.
He’s making the most of it and it’s easy to see that he’s enjoying his race riding.
He’s steamed into the limelight and it’s the fillip this Hong Kong born talent has needed. He’s a winner and it’s infectious. It pushes other to raise their game.
Other than Matthew Poon, we’re seeing other Hong Kong racing talent come into their own.
Being a proud Hong Kong Belonger, it’s obvious that this talent pool is being recognised in ways that they perhaps haven’t been been before- riders like Vincent Ho, Derek Leung, Matthew Chadwick, and newly licensed trainer Pierre Ng.
All are helping making the Made In Hong Kong brand something for local racing fans, and perhaps even non racing fans, celebrate their accomplishments with a new sense of pride.
This should be the time when the Hong Kong racing fraternity is recognised as sporting heroes and athletes alongside names celebrated in the city like the very marketable swimmer Siobhan Haughey, fencer Edgar Cheung, snooker player Marco Fu and others.
Horse racing in Hong Kong should finally be accepted as a sport, and not some oddity positioned along the fringes of everything else and seen by some as an after-thought.
Now is really the best possible time for the Hong Kong government, especially Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-Po, below, who’s leading the move towards cautiously opening up the city to tourism, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club to make this happen.
Hong Kong needs something to cheer on, and with the city slowly opening up, it stands to reason that its most popular pastime should be one of the major cheerleaders of what is the start of a comeback.
Here’s hoping that this can happen without the world seeing a city where people are eating and drinking, taking selfies and trying to enjoy themselves- outdoors- in what remains a masked city.
Sorry, but it’s a goofy ‘look’. It’s insulting to the image of Hong Kong. It’s a turn off.
Staying with horse racing, and being positive, let’s not forget young Hong Kong apprentice Britney Wong, below, who rode her first winner at Gawler last week, and is in Oz for a two year stint. Listening to her being interviewed, she sounds like a delightful young ambassador for Hong Kong racing.
Whether it’s feng shui, good joss, bai san ceremonies or just timing, we’re finally seeing people working to make things start to come together.
Part of all this is getting aboard things like “The Poon Train” and showcasing every locally built and owned sporting product.
Siobhan Haughey and Zac Purton in a swim off for charity or a charity golf tee-off? Why not?
Why and how does Bangkok get to host the breakthrough LIV Golf International and Hong Kong doesn’t?
Vincent Ho versus Edgar Cheung in football or a game of table tennis. Why not?
Why not perhaps open everything up as a citywide competition to the creative community and see what it comes up with?
It’s about interactivity, and, again, bringing all of Hong Kong together.
Who knows what new ideas might come out of this teamwork?
You know what they say about creativity and imagination...
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