Vincent Ho Chak-yiu became the 11th jockey to ride 600 Hong Kong winners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, sailing home aboard Healthy Healthy to reach the milestone.

A week before he will attempt to defend his Longines International Jockeys’ Championship crown at the city circuit, Ho laid down a marker for what he hopes is more success to come.

“It’s a lot of hard work and I need to thank everyone for all their support for all these years,” said Ho after capturing the Class Three Loch Lomond Handicap (1,000m).

“Everyone has been patient and I’m grateful for that. I’ll keep on working and trying to keep improving. It’s great. Hopefully, there’s more to come. I’ll keep on doing my best and keep improving.”

Earlier, Hugh Bowman shrugged off a nagging drought and Jamie Richards continued his mini-resurgence thanks to the victory of Gallant Valour.

The in-form Gallant Valour notched his second win of the season in the first section of the Class Four Edinburgh Handicap (1,200m), travelling one-off the fence in midfield under Bowman before rattling home down the middle of the track.

“I had a few meetings [with] no placings, but the last few meetings I’ve been around the money without a winner,” said Bowman, who had gone 46 rides without a victory.

“I’ve been around long enough to know that the wheel keeps turning, but it’s certainly nice to get back on the board with a horse I’ve had a bit to do with – it makes it even better.”

Richards was pleased to see Gallant Valour bounce back from a last-start fourth and the Kiwi handler has now had three winners in a fortnight after only one through the first two months of the campaign.

“It’s been a frustrating start, so many second placings,” Richards said.

“But they’ve been running well and hopefully there’s a few waiting in the wings that can step up and do a bit of a job for us as well.

“It’s a long old season and there’s still plenty of time to get things rolling, so hopefully we can keep cracking on.

“[Gallant Valour] is consistent and he tries. He just missed the kick a bit the other day and it cost him, but things worked out well for him there tonight.

“He goes up in grade and down in weight for his next start and hopefully he can carry on with it.”

The Mark Newnham-trained Fatal Blow built on his debut third with victory in the Class Four St Andrew’s Challenge Quaich (1,200m), taking up a prominent position under Luke Ferraris and proving too strong for The Perfect Match in a willing finish.

“For a horse having his second race start, he had to chase hard and he did that well. He’s a nice horse,” said Newnham.

“I actually bought him as a yearling for another client and had him in my Sydney stable up until I left. Then a good friend of mine, Danny Beasley, prepared him to come here.

“I actually spoke to Danny today and I thought he had a good chance, so it’s a nice result.”

Bowman ended the night with a double after also taking out the finale, the Class Three Inverness Handicap (1,800m), aboard Rocket Spade, while Zac Purton and Andrea Atzeni also snared braces.

Purton landed the opener aboard a galloper in some familiar silks, with Me Time taking out the Class Five Bridge Of Weir Handicap (1,800m) for trainer Douglas Whyte and owner Mike Cheung Shun-ching in the colours made famous by Russian Emperor.

The Australian jockey followed up with victory aboard Manfred Man Ka-leung’s $16.95 chance Turin Warrior in the Class Four Raeburn Place Handicap (1,650m) – his longest-priced victory since his win aboard Nothing Impossible at $17.55 in March 2022.

Atzeni’s brace came thanks to victories aboard a couple of enigmatic gallopers, with the Italian booting home Plentiful in the Class Five Cramond Island Handicap (1,000m) and Beauty Destiny in the third section of the Edinburgh Handicap.

Ng was the pick of the trainers thanks to the victories of Plentiful and Healthy Healthy, while the triumph of Affordable in the Class Four Ben Nevis Handicap (2,200m) handed trainer David Hayes his first winner not named Ka Ying Rising in more than a month.