Keith Yeung’s biggest win brightens season of struggle: ‘I’m just happy I didn’t let him down’
Keith Yeung Ming-lun ended his second serious drought of the term in style on Sunday, landing his biggest career success aboard the Caspar Fownes-trained Dances With Dragon in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m).
It was Yeung’s first winner in 105 rides in a run of outs dating back to April 5, a dry spell compounded by the 171 winless mounts he endured in the lead-up to that April success.
“Yes it’s a Group Three but the meaning behind it is more important. I’m a jockey who had only won one race in seven months, so imagine if you’re Caspar,” Yeung said after his maiden Group success and seventh victory of the season.
“He knows the horse is really fit and that the horse has got a chance, so to put me on is not an easy decision.
“I just really appreciate when you are low, that someone is still willing to support me like Caspar and the owners did.
“That really motivates me and I’m so thankful. I don’t feel like I’ve won a Group Three, I’m just happy I didn’t let him down. That means the most to me.”
The victory capped a remarkable second half of the season for Dances With Dragon, who has won four of his six starts since joining the Fownes stable from Peter Ho Leung.
Yeung rode the six-year-old in his close sixth at Group Three level last month and Fownes was thrilled he decided to stick with the affable jockey.
“I’m very happy, mostly for Keith – he needed this winner to pick up his morale and just get him in a good place. I’m glad that I stuck with him and gave him the chance to do it,” Fownes said.
“Hopefully he can get some opportunities coming into the new season because he doesn’t do much wrong, he rides pretty well and he rides 113 pounds.”
With the pace slow early as Southern Legend and More Than This sorted themselves out up front – with More Than This eventually emerging an unlikely leader – Dances With Dragon travelled nicely in midfield.
The gelding had plenty to give when the pace quickened, easily putting paid to his rivals in the final 300m under the bottom weight to win by nearly five lengths.