Benno Yung’s training career will come to a close at the end of this season in Hong Kong and the 66-year-old horseman is proud to depart the official ranks with fond memories and cherished lifelong friendships after the 2024/25 Season Finale on 16 July at Happy Valley.
Benno Yung has trained 359 winners in Hong Kong (Pic – HKJC)
Yung retires after being licenced since the 2013/14 term. He’s trained 359 winners across the 12-season period and is admired for his stable’s consistency as well as his own resilience to return to racing amidst an acute myeloid leukaemia battle last year.
“I’m happy with it. I had some very good support, some long-time owners. Even during my challenging period. They supported me and it impressed me. They really wanted me to produce a good horse,” Yung said. “Aside from just having a trainer-owner relationship, it was a real friendship. It wasn’t just a working relationship but a friendship.”
Excluding this season, Yung is yet to dip below 20 wins in a campaign. Six times he has surpassed or matched the 30-win mark, while his stable stars were hulking grey Pingwu Spark, Hong Kong Derby-third Romantic Touch, Hinchinlove, Son Pak Fu and Precision King – triumphant over former champion Rapper Dragon early in his career.
Yung began his journey in racing as an apprentice jockey in the 1970s. He became an assistant trainer in 1991 to Christopher Cheung before spending two seasons with Tony Millard. He then transferred to the John Size stable in 2001, playing a pivotal role in Size’s first seven trainers’ championships, before embarking out on his own.
Pingwu Spark won five times for Benno Yung (Pic – HKJC)
“I’ve enjoyed it. Working with John was wonderful, everyone knows he is a genius in horse training. I learnt a lot from him. It was a great experience,” Yung said.
Size, who leads the 2024/25 trainers’ championship, said: “Benno was with me for 12 years and we never had a cross word. That’s not easy to do – it’s a bit of an achievement. He looked after me very well when I arrived because, obviously, I knew nothing about The Hong Kong Jockey Club and how it worked.
“He was instrumental in my success in the early years and then he continued with me. We worked well together. He did the job with excellence and he was a constant source of support.”
Yung spent his early days grafting at Sha Tin’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School as a youngster before being assigned to two-time Hong Kong Derby-winning trainer Tam Man Kui’s stable.
“It was a good learning experience. Back then it was very hard during those times. There were a lot of apprentices in that period. Each stable could have one, two or three apprentices. Very difficult compared to now. It was great competition. For example, George Moore might have two or three apprentices at varying levels, some close to graduation and some not,” Yung said. “It was hard to get a ride and even in track work it could be hard to get a ride.”
Light Years Charm continues to improve (Pic – HKJC)
Easily his standout talent, Pingwu Spark reached a career-high rating of 119, the highest of any horse to race for Yung. The grey was renowned for his racecourse presence, weighing in excess of 1,300lb, requiring careful management by his trainer.
“He did a good job. At the start, we were cautious to race and train him because he was so heavy. We had to give him time and build him up gradually,” Yung said.
Pingwu Spark won five out of his first seven starts in Hong Kong, including four times in Class 2. He was also third to Beauty Only in the 2018 Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy before retiring with earnings of HK$8.75 million.
Heading into Tuesday’s fixture at Sha Tin, Yung has last-start winner Tourbillon Prince (119lb) engaged in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap. The five-time winner in Hong Kong pairs with Matthew Poon from gate nine.
“Class 2 now – which is very strong. It’s a tough race and since he came to me, he’s been quite honest and consistent,” Yung said.
Light Years Charm (129lb) represents David Eustace in Tuesday’s Class 2 feature, breaking from draw 10 with Zac Purton up as the rising star four-year-old seeks a hat-trick of wins. Stablemate Swift Ascend (120lb) is also engaged in the same race for Eustace.
“It was a good win last start. Light Years Charm obviously benefitted from a really strong pace. He’s got to improve but he’s been training nicely at home – just ticking over and holding his condition. I’m looking forward to it,” Eustace said.
Straight To Glory was a 56/1 second for Yung last start. The three-year-old son of Hellbent returns in the Class 4 World-Class Leadership 1000m Handicap with James Orman up.
“He has potential. It didn’t surprise me his last run. The race before over 1200 metres, I was maybe a bit disappointed because I thought he would run well. I think he stepped up too quick, so that’s why we are going back to 1000. I think he will run well,” Yung said.
Tuesday’s 10-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 10h00 with the Class 5 Racing Goes On 1800m Handicap.
