Chau looks to continue strong form with boss Whyte after passing 50 winners
A double with his boss Douglas Whyte helped Jerry Chau Chun-lok crack the half-century of winners at Sha Tin on Thursday and the in-form apprentice hopes they can continue their profitable partnership on Sunday.
Whyte and Chau have 18 winners together this season at 11 per cent but the strike rate jumps to more than 21 per cent since the beginning of June, a period in which the pair has seven winners from 33 attempts.
Chau is in the midst of the best season by an apprentice after sailing past Matthew Chadwick’s previous mark of 43 winners and climbs aboard another four gallopers for Whyte among his eight rides at Sha Tin this weekend.
“I’m very happy to go past 50 winners this season and especially to keep riding winners for my boss. He gives a lot of his good rides to me and has taught me a lot,” Chau said.
“Four or five months ago I was still claiming seven and at that time my boss’ horses were often carrying light weights and I couldn’t take the light ride. He stopped giving me so many rides but once I was claiming five he could give me more opportunities and our form is good.”
Chau’s weight coupled with his claim has stopped him taking rides right down in the handicap but more opportunities have opened up as his claim has dropped, initially from 10 pounds to seven last November and then from seven to five in May.
