Golden Empire runs on strongly to win cosily despite long odds and thus clinches a treble for trainer Francis Lui and a quick double for Lyle Hewitson (HKJC)
Lyle Hewitson went through a 72-ride drought between his 99th and 100th Hong Kong wins, but getting that milestone out of the way at the Chinese New Year meeting on Monday obviously buoyed him, because he rode a double today at Happy Valley.
Keagan de Melo was also on the board.
Hewitson’s winner on Monday paid 21,00 on the Tote and his first winner today, the Francis Lui-trained Joy Coming (Sooboog) paid R20 in the class 4 handicap over 1200m.
He seems to enjoy riding horses of that sort of price because he then rode the Francis Lui-trained Golden Empire to victory in a class 3 handicap over 1200m paying 18.00 on the Tote.
The wins took him to 22 wins for the season and puts him in 7th place on the log on his own.
De Melo’s win in the first race on General Ace (Telperion) was also for Francis Lui. This winner, in a class 5 handicap over 1200m, was also a longshot and paid 22.00 on the Tote.
De Melo is now on 15 wins and is in joint 10th place on the log.
