Popular Hong Kong trainer Benno Yung has confirmed that this season will be his last ahead of the Jockey Club’s licensing announcements this week.
Yung is 66 and was facing compulsory retirement regardless but in recent years a number of trainers have been granted extensions to continue training beyond 65.
The trainer made an inspirational comeback from successful treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) this season, training 18 winners, including Aeris Nova in the final race at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Yung’s final day of training will be the 2025 season finale at Happy Valley on July 16 after a 12-season career in which he has trained 358 winners to date.
Yung was a long-time assistant to John Size, including at the start of the Australian’s record-breaking career in 2001.
Size has won a record 12 trainers’ championships in the city and spoke glowingly of Yung when he was promoted to trainer in 2013-14.
“I have no hesitation in saying that I couldn’t have done my job well without him,” Size said when Yung was granted his licence. “When I first came to Hong Kong he showed me the system and how the place works. We’ve developed a close friendship and I don’t for one second think that will change. It’s going to be a natural thing for me to support him as much as I can. I’ll be there to listen to whatever questions he has. I’ll never be far away.”
Yung still referred to Size as “boss” in a statement to Idol Horse in which he also noted the support of HKJC officials for their support during his six months away from his stables last year, when he continued to work remotely.
“Firstly, I want to thank my boss John Size,” Yung said. “I also want to thank the Jockey Club, particularly the CEO, Winfried (Engelbrecht-Bresges), Andrew Harding and K L Cheng for their full support during what was a challenging period when I received treatment.”
Champion jockey Zac Purton has ridden 88 winners for Yung, more than any other rider, and paid tribute to the handler in an Idol Horse story at the start of this year.
“I’ve always had an association with Benno since he started in 2013,” Purton said. “One thing about him: when he has a horse in form, it holds its form. Benno can train.”
Yung started as an apprentice jockey in 1978 and rode until 1986, the final four years as a senior rider.
As a trainer, he developed a reputation as a patient handler blessed with the ability to nurse problem horses back to health and get them winning again, earning him the nickname “Dr Yung” with local press, with whom he was an immensely popular figure.
The best-known of Yung’s horses was the giant grey Pingwu Spark, a five-time winner that was placed at Group 2 level. ∎
