Birthday: Jul 30, 1988
Type: Freelance Jockey
Nationality: Hong Kong
Background:
Age: 36. A product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Apprentice Jockeys' School, Derek Leung cut his teeth as a young rider in New Zealand under the tutelage of trainer Lance O'Sullivan. He was assigned as apprentice jockey to Paul O'Sullivan's stable upon his return to Hong Kong and reached the graduation benchmark after claiming his 70th win aboard Star Of Fame on 1 June, 2011. Leung amassed 37 wins in the 2017/18 season, enough to earn a second consecutive Tony Cruz Award as the leading homegrown rider. That season also saw Leung notch a first career Group 1 aboard subsequent Horse of the Year Beauty Generation in the 2017 Hong Kong Mile. The rider was also in the plate for Group 2 and Group 3 wins on the gelding. Leung achieved a personal best 48 wins through season 2021/22, including a G2 Jockey Club Cup victory with Reliable Team. Leung notched his 400th Hong Kong win in 2022 at Happy Valley. In the 2023/24 season, he claimed his second Group 1 victory aboard Victor The Winner in the Centenary Sprint Cup. He rode the same horse to finish a gallant third in Japan's Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
Achievements:
Asian Young Guns Challenge winner (2010); Tony Cruz Award (2016/17 & 2017/18).
Notable Race Wins Include
Hong Kong Mile (2017 Beauty Generation), Centenary Sprint Cup (2024 Victor The Winner), Hong Kong Classic Cup (2019 Mission Tycoon), G2 Jockey Club Cup (2021 Reliable Team), G2 Premier Bowl (2020 Wishful Thinker), G2 Sha Tin Trophy (2017 Beauty Generation), G3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (2023 Encountered), G3 Celebration Cup (2017 Beauty Generation), HKG3 Premier Bowl (2009 Inspiration), HKG3 January Cup (2016 Flame Hero).
Hong Kong Career Wins
(at start of 2024/25 season): 460 (win strike rate 5.7%).
Year | Happy Valley | Shatin | 1000m-1200m | 1400m-1650m | 1800m-2000m | 2000m+ | ||||||||||||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | |
25 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 84 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 51 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distance | Win | 2nd | 3rd | Lost | Total Ride | Win% | ||
Happy Valley | 1000 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 23 | 8.7 | |
1200 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 87 | 99 | 0 | ||
1650 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 67 | 77 | 2.6 | ||
1800 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 22.73 | ||
2200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
Shatin | All weather | 1200 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 25 | 4 |
1650 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 28 | 7.14 | ||
1800 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
Turf | 1000 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 26 | 7.69 | |
1200 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 72 | 95 | 8.42 | ||
1400 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 92 | 120 | 5.83 | ||
1600 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 34 | 47 | 4.26 | ||
1800 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 19 | 5.26 | ||
2000 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 0 | ||
2400 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Draw Year | <4 | 4-10 | 10-20 | 20+ | ||||||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | |
25 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 53 |
Draw Year | 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-14 | |||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | |
25 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 45 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 49 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
Trainer | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Lost | Total |
F. C. Lor | 3 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 23 |
W. K. Mo | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 16 |
K. H. Ting | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
C. H. Yip | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
C. S. Shum | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
C. W. Chang | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
D. A. Hayes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
J. Richards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
K. L. Man | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 17 |
M. Newnham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
P. C. Ng | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
P. F. Yiu | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
T. P. Yung | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Y. S. Tsui | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |