You can never underestimate the importance of feng shui in the superstitious world of Hong Kong racing and Jerry Chau Chun-lok is grateful he decided to rearrange his furniture before banging in a monster treble at Sha Tin on Sunday.

After a difficult start to the campaign with only five winners through the first 30 meetings, Chau’s 2024-25 season sprang to life thanks to the victories of Fire Ball, Another World and Sky Joy.

The rider credited his three-timer to a combination of hard work, determination and good fortune. The 24-year-old says he moved some of his furniture – including a fish tank – in his house in the hope of bringing better luck.

“The last two months have been a bit down and it’s been hard to get winners,” Chau said. “But it seems now like the luck has changed and everything is going well.

“I just kept working hard, going to Sha Tin and Conghua to ride trackwork to get the results.”

The first leg of Chau’s 3,822-1 treble came in the opening Class Five Amaryllis Handicap (1,600m), with the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Fire Ball narrowly prevailing at $14.8 in a tight finish with Cervin.

The rider was back in the winners’ enclosure after he delivered $34 shot Another World to perfection in the Class Four Holly Handicap (1,400m).

After chasing the speed on the rail from gate two, Another World travelled powerfully at the top of the straight before being produced 300m out.

The four-year-old found plenty on the inside to register his first win in the city at start three and deny the well-backed Lucky Fionn by a neck.

The victory also continued Benno Yung Tin-pang’s recent run of form, with the trainer bagging his third win in the past three meetings.

Chau sealed his treble in the first half of the card when he steered another lightly raced galloper to success in the second section of the Class Four Hibiscus Handicap (1,200m).

Teaming up with the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Sky Joy after the pair found only one too good when the galloper debuted last month, Chau showed supreme confidence to negotiate stall 14 and make a race-winning move turning for home.

Chau settled Sky Joy in third on the outside of Zac Purton aboard favourite Sunny Da Best and kept his main rival penned in at a crucial stage 400m out.

While Sunny Da Best lost momentum and was forced to hunt for clear running, Chau and Sky Joy were away and gone.

Sky Joy held off Purton’s fast-finishing mount by half a length, with Chau earning all the plaudits from his delighted trainer.

“It was his second start and from a wide barrier on the A+3 course, statistics told us he couldn’t win,” Yiu said.

“But with Jerry Chau on him, I said to the owners he’ll at least be in the first three because we’ve got a jockey who is flying today.

“Jerry is an improving young chap, I like him a lot. Before he went overseas [to Australia as part of his apprenticeship] he was with me and I spent a lot of time with him for 12 months or so.

“I try to use him whenever I can and every time I try to use a jockey his name comes up.”

While Chau moved to eight wins for the campaign – leapfrogging Harry Bentley, Alexis Badel, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Lyle Hewitson in the premiership – the rider was whacked with two suspensions and a HK$50,000 fine after he was found guilty of careless riding in races five and seven.

He will miss four meetings for his winning ride aboard Sky Joy and his third-placed finish on Yiu’s Lucky Eight, who contested the Class Three Pok Oi Cup (1,200m).