Alexis Pouchin is a winner in Hong Kong, with the 24-year-old French jockey ending an agonising run of placings to land his first success in the city at Sha Tin on Sunday.

With the 21st ride of a two-month Hong Kong stint which began a fortnight ago, Pouchin punched Harry’s Hero home in the Class Five Lukfook Jewellery Wedding Collection Handicap (1,400m) to open his account after three seconds and three thirds.

“It’s my first winner after a few weeks, now I feel better,” said Pouchin via his translator. “I really enjoy to catch a winner in Hong Kong.

“Thank you to the owners and trainers who have given me rides in Hong Kong. I had three seconds and three thirds before, but I won today, which is the most important thing.”

Harry’s Hero broke his Hong Kong maiden at start 21, finishing strongly down the middle of the track from midfield to salute at $14.25.

“The distance was quite good for the horse today and the pace was fast enough so he could travel easily in the race,” said Pouchin, who has won 10 Group Ones, including five aboard Andre Fabre-trained star Mqse De Sevigne.

“It was quite a good performance. He had a nice action in the straight. I hope to catch another win with this horse.”

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was thrilled to provide Pouchin with his first Hong Kong victory.

“I always try to give the new jockeys their first winner,” Yiu smiled.

“The horse had no form so when you ask the local boys and the expats to ride him, they don’t have any interest. But if you ask the new club jockey, they’ll ride everything.”

After beginning his Hong Kong career on a mark of 64 after two wins from four starts in the United Kingdom, Harry’s Hero had slid all the way down to a rating of 27 after failing to even produce a placing before Sunday.

“He’s been a bit disappointing. He’s a [Private Purchase] from England and he was originally in Class Three, but he’s dropped a lot in the ratings,” said Yiu.

“[The mile and 1,800m has] been a bit far for him – generally speaking he’s a weak horse – but in a 1,400m Class Five, he could just make it.”

Later on the card, New Future Folks provided jockey Ben Thompson and trainer Michael Chang Chun-wai with an equally welcome winner after a significant drought for both parties.

Chang had gone 67 runners since his last success on October 16, while Thompson’s dry spell had reached 72 rides since his October 6 success on Forever Folks, who – like New Future Folks – is trained by Chang and owned by So Wing-keung.

“He had been knocking on the door – it can sometimes be the hardest race to win, the maiden,” Thompson said after New Future Folks broke through at start five in the Class Four Lukfook Jewellery Heirloom Fortune Collection Handicap (1,400m).

“It was nice to get that out of the way. The support has been great, particularly from Michael Chang and Mr and Mrs So. We’ve linked together well.”

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