Veteran handler Me Tsui Yu-sak has been given a free pass to train next season despite not yet meeting the latest version of the Jockey Club’s trainers’ criteria, while Benno Yung Tin-pang is confident he can shake off illness and continue his career in 2024-25.

Following its meeting on Friday, the Jockey Club’s licensing committee stated that Yung’s application for next season “is under further consideration” after the 65-year-old’s health battles, which have included pneumonia.

“I should be OK, I want to train next season,” Yung told the Post. “I think physically I can train next season and personally I think I will.

“I’ve mentioned my health issues before but I think I should be OK. I should get over it, I just need a bit of time.”

Yung was the only current trainer not granted a licence on Friday, with Tsui given the all-clear to continue despite landing only 13 winners – including six in Class Five – so far this season.

After black marks for failing to meet the Jockey Club’s trainers’ benchmark in the past two seasons, it would very likely have been three strikes and you’re out for Tsui if not for the uncertainty surrounding Yung’s future.

He may yet meet the new criteria, however, after officials lowered the win benchmark to 14 per season for single-site handlers, down from 16, and from 18 to 16 for those with a Conghua base.

The Jockey Club also scrapped the cap on Class Five wins introduced ahead of the 2021-22 season, meaning all cellar-grade successes now count towards a handler’s tally rather than just two.

The new benchmark means Michael Chang Chun-wai, who sits on 15 victories, has satisfied criteria, however Jimmy Ting Koon-ho still looks likely to receive a first strike after saluting only nine times this campaign.

All 22 jockeys will be back next season, with everyone but Ben Thompson given a full-season licence.

The in-form Thompson, who has ridden two winners in the past week, has been contracted until December 8.

Officials issued struggling local pair Dylan Mo Hin-tung and Alfred Chan Ka-hei with warnings, outlining that their “race riding performance and number of race rides during the 2023-24 racing season are of concern and that should [their] race riding performance and number of race rides not improve significantly during the 2024-25 racing season, [they] may not be granted a further freelance jockey’s licence”.