Vincent Ho Chak-yiu made a winning return from a bout of concussion as The Boom Box enhanced his reputation with a second victory from as many starts at Sha Tin on Wednesday.

Sidelined after being concussed in a race fall on December 18, Hong Kong’s top home-grown jockey bounced back to team up with Chris So Wai-yin for a double with The Boom Box and Devas Twelve.

After notching a treble at Sha Tin on December 1, Ho rode just one winner for the rest of that month and also lost the ride on Galaxy Patch for the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) on January 19.

“It’s been really tough the past few weeks, but I’m grateful to be riding him today,” Ho said after scything through the field to lift The Boom Box to victory in the second section of the Class Four Lai Chi Chong Handicap (1,200m).

“We wanted him to relax early to teach him the right way for the future when we might step him up and he’s got a great turn of foot and showed bravery between horses, so he’s on the right path.”

The Boom Box rocketed home from last to beat the fast-finishing Invincible Lucky by three-quarters of a length, despite rising to equal top weight of 131 pounds and drawing wide in barrier 10.

The son of Spirit Of Boom backed up his debut victory when he also finished powerfully to score an impressive win last month.

“The horse seems like a good horse from his track work, trials and races,” So said.

“We’re happy. We’ll try up to Class Three carrying a light weight. I’m not worried to step up because there’s no pressure from the owner. In the future, it seems like he could get further.”

While The Boom Box was strongly backed into $2.35 favouritism, Devas Twelve saluted at the juicy odds of $21.1 for Ho and So in the first section of the Class Four Lei Muk Shue Handicap (1,400m).

Luck’s a fortune for Yung

It was another lucky start to the New Year for Benno Yung Tin-pang, with the in-form handler replicating his feat from 12 months ago by winning the first race of the calendar year with Fun Elite.

Yung, who won last year’s opening race with Eighty Light Years, continued his form resurgence when apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni guided Fun Elite to a comfortable victory in the first section of the Class Four Lai Chi Chong Handicap.

Well supported into $2.8 favouritism, Fun Elite travelled three-wide in third position but responded to Wong’s urgings to hit the front at the 250m.

He soared clear to score by a length and a quarter from Always My Folks, delivering Yung a fifth success from the past six meetings as the veteran rebounds from a slow start to the season.

“Britney didn’t fight with him, so he settled well,” Yung said.

“I think he can win more races.”

A debut winner down the Sha Tin straight last season, Fun Elite has since been his own worst enemy after blowing the start in several races.

Off the scene after he was lame last March, the Brazen Beau four-year-old returned in November and produced two solid runs before breaking through on Wednesday.

“He’d had problems in the gates. It took a long, long time to get over the problem. I have to say thank you to the starter and barrier staff, they helped us a lot and my stable staff did a lot of work to help him get over the problem, too,” Yung said.

Smooth moves

Caspar Fownes and Ellis Wong Chi-wang snapped nagging droughts as Cantopop idol Aaron Kwok Fu-shing stole the show at Sha Tin after Dancing Code’s impressive win.

The actor and dancer was the star attraction on New Year’s Day, with his horse Dancing Code recording a third win at start 18 in the first section of the Class Three Cha Kwo Ling Handicap (1,200m).

A heaving media throng packed around Kwok after the race and the 59-year-old gladly shared his time before strolling around the parade ring to greet the adoring fans that called out from the crowd.

“He has been a great supporter of the stable and we spoke last night for about 15 minutes,” Fownes said. “He was very happy to give the boy [Wong] a chance and Ellis gave the horse a beautiful ride.”

For Fownes and Wong, Dancing Code brought about a much-needed winner after a lengthy run of outs. The handler waited 57 runners between drinks while the rider had to wait 42 rides for a win, which was his first at Sha Tin for the season.

“I almost forgot what training a winner feels like,” Fownes added. “It’s a good result for everyone and I’m confident he’ll go to Class Two and be very competitive.”