Cody Mo Wai-kit took the best month of his training career up a gear at Sha Tin on Sunday, nailing his maiden treble to continue his march up the premiership standings.
Mo’s eight victories in November are double his previous best haul in a single month and the second-season handler now sits seventh in the championship with 14 wins.
“Conghua is helping the stable a lot and this season, my team is good,” said Mo after banking a 721-1 three-timer in the first four races on Sunday’s card.
Mo took out the opener, the Class Five Chevalier E&M Engineering Handicap (1,400m), with $4 chance Super Wise Dragon, who had spent time in Conghua since his last-start 10th over the extended Happy Valley mile.
Super Wise Dragon breaks his maiden! 👏
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 24, 2024
The Hong Kong International Sale graduate by Snitzel lands the opener at Sha Tin under Derek Leung for Cody Mo... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/XarXBeqXxD
Well-supported late in betting, Super Wise Dragon came from just forward of midfield in the run to salute by a length and three-quarters under Derek Leung Ka-chun, with the International Sales Griffin breaking his maiden at start 15.
“He had a bit of a breathing problem when he came to me and he struggled with his breathing a bit at Happy Valley. Today, draw one helped and he performed well,” Mo said of the six-year-old, who he acquired from Chris So Wai-yin ahead of this season.
Also ridden by Leung, Alluring Laos sprang something of a surprise on debut by taking out the Class Four Chevalier Enterprise Digital Solutions Handicap (1,000m) after being sent off $14.8.
After tracking leader and $2.5 favourite Ka Ying Resilience near the outside rail from barrier 12, Alluring Laos popped out inside the 300m and strode to a half-length triumph.
Debutant Alluring Laos bursts out of the pack! Derek Leung and Cody Mo bag the first two races at Sha Tin... ✌️#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/6paZuAogMo
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 24, 2024
“I thought he might run a good race. He showed some speed in his trials overseas and even in Conghua, he chased home well. He’s still a bit green and has more room to improve,” Mo said of the four-year-old son of Flying Artie.
Offroad Master completed Mo’s haul, enjoying a switch to the dirt for the Class Four Chevalier Healthcare Investment Handicap (1,200m).
Fourth behind Geneva over the Sha Tin turf 1,200m on debut earlier this month, Offroad Master didn’t go around a runner at start two after holding the rail inside the leader from barrier one.
After settling down to duke it out with Shanghai Style and Hugh Bowman in the straight, $12.2 pop Offroad Master and Matthew Chadwick prevailed by three-quarters of a length.
Three wins for Cody Mo! 🔥
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 24, 2024
Offroad Master provides Mo with a treble at Sha Tin thanks to a supreme @mattLchadwixk ride... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/kxh3McaMWq
“I thought he could show something on the all-weather track. In his first run he was fourth, which wasn’t bad, and when I saw him trial [on the dirt] I thought he had ability and thought I’d try him on the dirt,” said Mo.
Mo wasn’t the only trainer to produce a debut winner early on Sunday’s card, with So’s Hong Lok Golf getting under the guard of punters to a much greater extent than Alluring Laos did 30 minutes earlier.
Sent off $43.50 after failing to impress in his most recent trial, Hong Lok Golf finished strongly under Harry Bentley to snare the Class Four Chevalier Environmental Engineering Handicap (1,200m).