Graham Cunningham's Hong Kong Briefing: Van Niekerk fired

Van Niekerk fired

Grant Van Niekerk's short but successful spell in HK is over just as it was getting going.

The 28-year-old South African has has suffered a series of suspensions in his second season but was lying fifth in the jockeys' table with 37 winners worth around £5m in prize money.

However, what local media are describing as a domestic dispute last Thursday night has brought swift action from HKJC stewards.

Van Niekerk was called to Jockey Club HQ on Monday afternoon and soon after it was announced that his licence had been withdrawn with immediate effect "as a result of a conduct-related matter which does not pertain to any race riding or other racing integrity-related matter."

Purton steps in as Legend returns

Van Niekerk's six rides at Happy Valley's Wednesday card were soon reallocated and Zac Purton comes in for a reasonable spare when Young Legend - formerly known as Low Latency in Ireland for Darren Bunyan - returns from a break in the Hong Tung Handicap at 2.15.

Diamond Brilliant will be favourite and looks bound to go well under Joao Moreira after two solid seconds over course and distance. Ping Hai Galaxy has been hit and miss but is another for the short list if back in the mood that saw him beat Diamond Brilliant two starts ago, while Jumbo Happiness is on top of his game after a decisive win under Neil Callan three weeks ago.

You have to look back further to find Young Legend's best form but he's back on a fair mark with a good draw and a couple of recent barrier trials suggest that he's ready to go on his first run since October.

King versus Prince on cards in Champions Mile

There is something of the Tiger Woods about Beauty Generation nowadays.

Gone are the days when John Moore's gelding could brutalise the best by wide margins but BG still has the craft to win majors when a chance presents itself and Waikuku's poor effort in Sunday's Chairman's Trophy enabled him to do just that.

On the plus side, Zac Purton never had to go for the whip in a three-way finish with Ka Ying Star and Southern Legend. But on the minus side, the placed horses are now a combined 1-18 this season.

Francis Lui has yet to confirm whether Golden Sixty will take a first crack at Beauty Generation in the £2m Champions Mile on April 26th but Sunday's result will surely increase temptation.

The Derby hero galloped under Vincent Ho on Sha Tin's AW track on Tuesday morning and a clash between the old king and the young prince would go a long way to deciding HK's coveted Horse of the Year title.

Orange not the only fruit in tough sprint

Apprentice rider Alfie Chan has had an eventful time of late, spending a precautionary 14 days in self isolation after his girlfriend's colleague tested positive for coronavirus, but he links up with a trusted ally when the freewheeling Very Sweet Orange bids for a Valley four timer in the Hing Wah Handicap at 2.45.

Chan showed a nice line in unintentional puns when telling Sam Agars of the South China Morning Post that "there's only one way he can win the race - just lead and go - as he doesn't like being squeezed."

Stall 3 will help his chances of going all the way again but Very Sweet Orange is on a career high mark now and Be Ready, Allied Agility and Larson rate high on a lengthy list of in-form dangers.

Yeung breaks streak as Star goes all the way

Keith Yeung might have uttered a few choice words if you had told him that his win on Hardly Swears at Happy Valley on November 20th would be his last for 138 days.

The 31-year-old homegrown lightweight has stayed positive through his barren spell and a losing streak - which had worked its way up to 171 - was finally broken when Voyage Star made every yard on Sunday.

Yeung's three midweek rides don't look anything special but he can now approach the final third of the season with more optimism. "I didn't know what to think when I was clear because I'm so used to being passed by other horses," he said. "We are all here for results and it's nice when the hard work is paid off."