Leung starred at Sha Tin last weekend as the jockeys’ championship race between Zac Purton and Joao Moreira ended in stalemate as Purton holds a two-win lead over his great title rival (132-130) as the final fixtures loom large. “I returned from suspension and I had a few quality rides in my hand, I was pretty surprised I rode three winners but I will try my best to ride a few more,” Leung said. Three wins off the half-century mark, Leung’s 47 this term have smashed last season’s previous best of 39 for a campaign and Sunday’s (10 July) treble has the 33-year-old feeling good as he plots the near-impossible mission of catching Matthew Chadwick as this season’s leading homegrown rider in the race for the Tony Cruz Award. “I hope next season I can keep it up and break my own record again, if I have support like I have these last couple of months then I’m sure next season will be even better,” Leung said.

“I’m lucky, I hope I can get over 50 winners – I will try my best over these last two meetings and no matter what, this season has been a very good season for me. Currently annexing his best season to date, Derek Leung is plotting even loftier targets next term as he looks to achieve his first 50-win campaign in Hong Kong at either Happy Valley’s final fixture on Wednesday night (13 July) or at the Sha Tin season finale this Saturday (16 July).

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