In many ways, Hong Kong jockey Matthew Chadwick’s second short-term stint at Kranji is a carbon-copy of last year’s first experience.
Again, it’s come as a bit of a working holiday during the Hong Kong off-season break, but what was also the common thread was the “therapeutic” side of the stay.
Last year, the former Hong Kong champion apprentice jockey underwent major knee reconstruction which put him out of action for half of the 2015/2016 season. He used the five weeks at Kranji to not only broaden his riding resume, but also to bring up his fitness level ahead of the new season, especially around the thigh muscle to his right leg – his “weak leg” since a dislocated patella at birth.
Unfortunately, the haul was not quite what former Hong Kong great California Memory’s regular rider had expected – one winner from 38 rides, Master Banger for Leslie Khoo on July 29, 2016.
But he was overall happy with the fitness side of things and went back to Hong Kong ready to tackle the new season.
After a great start, highlighted no doubt by his early association with global media sensation Pakistan Star, Chadwick’s season eventually slumped towards the second tier of the table to wind up with nine wins, 21 seconds and 22 thirds from 302 rides.
While Chadwick was the first one to admit it was an ordinary year, it is to be noted that he was again sidelined by injury to his - you guessed it - right leg, this time for three months from May to July.
“I spoke to my wife back in January about booking a ticket back to Singapore during the break, but I wasn’t sure,” said Chadwick.
“But when I fractured my foot, I thought Singapore would be ideal again to keep my fitness level up, more so when I came last year and would know a few more people this time.
“It’s a similar scenario to last year after I hurt my right foot as well. It’s always the right foot.
“I got off a horse at a day meeting at Sha Tin and couldn’t walk properly. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I remembered a horse stood on my foot for a split second two weeks earlier, and it was probably the stress fracture that has built up around a weakened bone, and eventually pushed me over the edge.
“It’s just one of these things. My season was actually just starting to pick up and that happened.
“I actually started off the season okay, but it became increasingly hard to get decent rides, I had a lot of placings, which is the usual story.
“It’s just very competitive, especially when you’re against two riders (Joao Moreira and Zac Purton) who have 300 winners between them. There is not much food left on the table.”
Chadwick, 26, is hoping he can have a better share of the pickings at Kranji this time, even if he is visiting for a much shorter stay of two weeks. He said his right foot was completely healed and he was looking forward to a more productive stint than in 2016.
“I arrived yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon with my wife and my daughter and I will be here until the 12th of August,” said the Hong Kong-born jockey adopted by a couple of British teachers.
“That will give me time to start riding work before the new Hong Kong season begins on the 3rd of September.
“I’ve got four rides this week, but I obviously don’t know much about them. They are not top chances from what I gather, but you never know.”
Chadwick is booked on only ride at his first day back on Friday night, Justice First in the last race for Hong Kong-based owner Lucky Stable and trainer Mohd Yusof. He has three rides on Sunday, Gin Go Gin (Race 2) for champion trainer Alwin Tan and another two for Yusof, Return To Justice (Race 7), also owned by the Lucky Stable, and Dragon Highness (Race 10).
Gin Go Gin is also raced by his fellow countrymen, the Lucky Unicorn Stable.
