He may have had to wait slightly longer than most before riding in races at Happy Valley, but Ellis Wong Chi-wang has quickly become hot property at the city circuit.

The 23-year-old apprentice collected his 13th victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, steering $10 chance Charming Steed to a comfortable two-and-a-half-length win with an enterprising front-running ride.

The Class Five success marked the fourth time in as many meetings Wong had made his way to the Happy Valley winner’s enclosure and also secured his boss, Caspar Fownes, a 600th city circuit triumph in the process.

Over eight months passed between Wong’s Hong Kong debut and his first Happy Valley ride on January 10, but he has seemingly thrived around the tight-turning track and racked up his wins at an impressive strike rate.

Wong has returned 13 victories from 75 rides at Happy Valley for a 17.3 per cent win rate, with only Hugh Bowman operating at a better strike rate at the track for the 2023-24 campaign.

A midweek double for Bowman ticked the Aussie ace over to 26 wins from 145 rides (17.9 per cent) at the city circuit this term, while six-time champion jockey Zac Purton has fired in 44 victories from 262 rides (16.8 per cent) at the track.

For Wong to be operating in similar areas to the best of Hong Kong’s riding roster is no mean feat considering the youngster has had much fewer chances at the head of the market.

Of Bowman’s Happy Valley rides, 22 per cent have jumped favourite while a staggering 36 per cent of Purton’s mounts have started the shortest price in the field.

Wong has only had a handful of chances at the head of the market in comparison, with 12 per cent – nine of his 75 Happy Valley rides – jumping favourite.

He obliged on three of those nine occasions, but has also banged in winners at $49, $27 and $10 in the past month.

The common theme to Wong’s Happy Valley success has been the lethal combination of his handy weight allowance and front-running tactics, which have no doubt capitalised on a track that, at times, has suited those on the pace.

Wong has taken the race by the scruff of the neck to go from pillar to post on six of his winners, while he sat second before overhauling the leader a further three times.

Backing him blindly would not have made you a fortune this term, but he is one of only three riders yielding a profit to $10 level stakes.

Wong has returned $434.5 in the green for the campaign, while backing Alfred Chan Ka-hei would have returned a profit of $316 and Harry Bentley $65.5.

Eight race days remain of the 2023-24 season and Wong will be looking to add to his season tally of 23 before his three-meeting suspension kicks in on July 1.

Wong, who was hit with the ban and a HK$40,000 fine for careless riding last weekend, heads to Sha Tin’s 11-race card on Saturday with a five-strong book of rides headlined by Awesome Treasure in the first section of the Class Four Kau Sai Chau Handicap (1,200m).

The consistent David Hayes-trained galloper has collected one win and four runner-up efforts from his past five outings and will aim to go one better than his latest effort over the Sha Tin 1,200m two weeks ago.

While he will have to negotiate a wide berth in barrier 10, Wong’s mount in the Yan Chau Tong Plate (1,000m) for Griffins, Run Yes Run, has been gifted the plum draw in stall 14 down the straight course.

A placegetter on his past two starts, Run Yes Run will aim to shed the maiden tag at the fourth time of asking with Wong in the saddle.

Bulb Prince, Metro Warrior and Laugh Tale complete the youngster’s Saturday book.