Michael Chang continues strong start with double: ‘He’s brutal – he just wants to give up’ | HK Racing

Michael Chang Chun-wai hit his first double since April and continued his strong start to the season at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Although Chang has struggled to meet the managers’ standards in recent seasons, it seems unlikely the 62-year-old will have the same concerns this season after five winners from the first nine meetings.

After opening his account thanks to Forever Folks’ win under Ben Thompson in the Class Four High West Handicap (1,650m) on the dirt, Chang completed his brace by taking out the Class Three Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1,200m) with Lady’s Choice to move into sixth place in the premiership.

It was Karis Teetan who guided Lady’s Choice to a close victory over Mighty Stride in his first run since knee surgery in June.

Lady’s Choice was close to leader Hong Kong Hall in a race with plenty of early speed before taking control in the 300m.

“I thought he was going to throw in the towel again because we were going pretty fast,” Teetan said of Lady’s Choice, which qualified seven times without saluting last season.

“He basically traveled into the straight, which he always does, but I didn’t want the leader to stop so quickly. Once the leader stopped, he hit the front and thought about stopping himself.

“He just wanted to stop all the way down the straight. I just tried to throw everything at him.

“He’s got it there, but he’s brutal – he just wants to give up. I’m just happy that his head was over the line at the front and I’m happy for Michael. His stable is doing well and he has the horse flying.”

While Chang and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen were the trainers who enjoyed the doubles, Cody Mo Wai-kit could count himself a little unlucky not to participate after debutant Markwin failed to match stablemate Alpha One by a hair to close when saluting.

After getting $18 after some nice Conghua trials, Markwin was as good as the last time he returned home in a race with no early pace, before heading home in 21.87 seconds despite encountering problems on the straight home stretch.

“This horse has improved a lot in Conghua. His last test was good,” said Mo after Markwin fell a neck short of Aeroinvincible, who enjoyed being bowled up front by Zac Purton after racing sharply in previous starts.

Mo only had to wait 30 minutes for redemption, with Alpha One leading the way to clinch the Class Three Federation Of HK Guangdong Community Trophy (1,000m).

Another with decent trial form, Alpha One relished the step back to five furlongs to improve on his opening 10th and achieve his first success in Hong Kong at start four.

“This horse is a good horse, but he is not castrated, so it makes him a bit heavy,” Mo said of a galloper who finished second behind 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick in a Group pre-import Three in Australia.

“I went to the 1,000 meter race so he can show his speed. He ran very well and he certainly has capabilities.”

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