Fairway's Turf Online

Derek Leung is Asian top young gun

SINGAPORE: Jul 18, 2010

Derek Leung winning on FANTASTIC JAW in the first leg of the
Asian Young Guns Challenge - SNTC photo

Hong Kong's Derek Leung was named the top rider in the second edition of the Asian Young Guns Challenge on a countback from Singapore's Mark Ewe at the end of a three-race series at Kranji here today.

Each won a race with Malaysia's Harmett Singh Gill bagging the other. Leung, 21, who is indentured to Paul O'Sullivan, and Ewe were tied at 33 points each but Leung has a fifth placing while Ewe's only other ride finished 11th. Harmeet finished third with 30 points.

"This is one of the highlights of my career. I came here determined to do better than at my first participation in Melbourne last year, and I won,” said Leung who finished fifth to Japan's Kota Fujioka in Melbourne.

Leung led fellow Hong Kong apprentice Keith Yeung to a 1-2 finish in the opening event on FANTASTIC JAW (Fantastic Light - Salaam by Centaine) who has now two wins and two placings in four starts.

INNOCENT STAR (Mr Innocent - Creola by Palace Music) romped to an easy victory, his sixth in 59 starts, with Harmeet astride while Ewe had a hard-fought victory on DAAD'S THE WAY (Istidaad - Rodeo Rose by Prince Of Praise) in the final leg.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	CLASS 5, DIV 3 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	Imperial Knight	B Dean	D Beasley	1
7	Special Account	B Dean	Saimee	2
1	Soldier Of Honour	P Shaw	B Vorster	3
5	That's Money	M Yusof	S John	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	Anak Miri	H K Tan	J Moreira	1
6	Luckyatsuccess	M Clements	D Beasley	2
8	Windspout	H W Tan	T H Koh	3
5	Gut Feel	D Koh	Saimee	4

3	INITIATION - 1400M
1	Magic Haul	C Brown	J Moreira	1
2	Cheeky Fox	S Chua	Zaki	2
9	My Friend Jo	Baertschiger	B Vorster	3
10	Sinseven	S Burridge	V Duric	4

4	KRANJI STAKES C - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
5	Finstock Road	P Shaw	S Cormack	1
3	Bay Of Island	S Gray	V Duric	2
7	Famous Than U	Z L Mok	Saimee	3
6	Holtmail	P Shaw	I Andy	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
9	Ninth Avenue	D Kok	M Ewe	1
2	Midlife Crisis	Baertschiger	D Beasley	2
8	Redpacketday	Z L Mok	V Duric	3
10	Vanquish	H W Tan	S Cormack	4

6	ASIAN YOUNG GUNS CHALLENGE
	CLASS 4 - 1200M
2	Fantastic Jaw	S Gray	K C Leung	1
9	Gutsy Boxer	H K Tan	M L Yeung	2
11	Schmeichel	P Shaw	T R Barnabas	3
7	Rocket Singh	O'Hara	W Egan	4

7	CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
10	Who Els	T Kieser	J Moreira	1
9	Patrician	D Kok	Saimee	2
4	Equience	J Meagher	Soo	3
12	Nefertiti	J Meagher	R Stewart	4

8	ASIAN YOUNG GUNS CHALLENGE
	CLASS 5 - 1400M
1	Innocent Star	Baertschiger	H S Gill	1
4	Super Return	S Chua	W Egan	2
3	Happy Lido	Khoo	G Banno	3
12	Mr Vantastic	D Hill	M Airy	4

9	BENCHMARK 9 - 1400M
4	Just A Man	Baertschiger	B Vorster	1
6	Pacino	L Laxon	J Moreira	2
3	Big Choice	L Laxon	Saimee	3
2	Villain	J Meagher	R Stewart	4

10	ASIAN YOUNG GUNS CHALLENGE
	BENCHMARK 61 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
1	Daad's The Way	S Gray	M Ewe	1
11	Double Dose	B Dean	S H Low	2
7	Sean	L Laxon	T H Koh	3
2	Yes We Can	Baertschiger	S Mutaza	4

11	CLASS 3 - 1200M
2	Grecian Choice	M Freedman	D Beasley	1
8	Maple Star	S Burridge	J Moreira	2
1	Master Magic	J Meagher	Soo	3
5	Afriend	Baertschiger	S Cormack	4

12	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	Lucky Find	B Dean	D Beasley	1
2	Magician	L Laxon	Saimee	2
8	Gentlemen's Honour	D Koh	J L Li	3
5	Trigger Synergy	S Burridge	V Duric	4