An apprentice continued his hot form, a veteran handler had a big month and a few prominent jockeys struggled to fire in June.

The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride.

Who’s hot?

Fresh from his best month of the campaign with five wins in May, Ellis Wong Chi-wang went to another level in June with eight victories from just 35 rides – operating at a phenomenal strike rate of 22.86 per cent.

The 24-year-old’s haul for the month was second only to Zac Purton (11 wins) as he continues an impressive end to the season.

Zac Purton was in fine form once again in June.

Harry Bentley and Brenton Avdulla also had successful months with five victories apiece.

From a trainer’s perspective, Tony Cruz shone with seven winners from 49 runners, helping him jump from 10th to seventh in the championship standings.

David Eustace also had a big month with six winners from 44 runners while Manfred Man Ka-leung, Chris So Wai-yin and Douglas Whyte each bagged five wins. Man’s exceptional strike rate of 10.7 per cent for the season is second only to championship leader John Size (11.1).

Who’s not?

Hugh Bowman and Luke Ferraris sit second and fifth in the jockeys’ championship, respectively, but June was a month to forget for the top riders after they managed just one win each.

Superb Kid was Luke Ferraris’ sole winner in June.

Matthew Poon Ming-fai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun also had just one triumph each, while Ben Thompson failed to visit the winners’ enclosure, with the Australian carrying a winless streak of 79 rides into the final month of the term.

Four handlers had just one win in June – Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, Mark Newnham, David Hall and Jamie Richards.

Win of the month

He’s rarely beaten far despite racing in some of the city’s biggest features and he’s consistent without often winning, but Beauty Joy managed to bag another Group success in emphatic style this month.

Cruz’s eight-year-old overcame a slow start to rattle home from second last in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) field of 14, bursting down the centre of the track under Avdulla to comfortably account for Derby hero Cap Ferrat by a length and a quarter.

It was Beauty Joy’s first victory since last year’s Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) and a signature result in a campaign that included a barnstorming third in the Group One Hong Kong Mile in December and fourth in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m).

More importantly, it convinced Cruz and connections to extend the HK$35.3 million earner’s career for another season.

Ride of the month

If you’re looking for an example of the perfect ride down the Sha Tin 1,000m straight, look no further than Avdulla’s on Majestic Express.

Drawn unfavourably in gate five, the John Size-trained sprinter was taken back in the field by Avdulla, who gradually made his way towards the better going near the grandstand rail.

The move was successful when Majestic Express got all the way to the grandstand rail passing the 500m and Avdulla waited until the 200m to unleash his mount, who responded with a paralysing late burst.

He arrived just in time to run down Fast Responder by a short head.