Birthday: Jul 30, 1988

Type: Freelance Jockey

Nationality: Hong Kong

Background:
Age: 37. A product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Apprentice Jockeys' School, Derek Leung honed his skills as a young rider in New Zealand under the tutelage of trainer Lance O'Sullivan. On his return to Hong Kong, he was indentured to Paul O'Sullivan's stable and reached the graduation benchmark when he rode his 70th winner, 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 register a first Group 1 success aboard subsequent Horse of the Year Beauty Generation in the 2017 Hong Kong Mile. He was also in the plate for Group 2 and Group 3 wins on the gelding. Leung achieved a personal best of 48 wins during the 2021/22 season, highlighted by a G2 Jockey Club Cup success with Reliable Team. He reached his 400th Hong Kong win at Happy Valley in 2022. In the 2023/24 season, he claimed his second Group 1 victory aboard Victor The Winner in the Centenary Sprint Cup. He also partnered the same horse to a gallant third in Japan's Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He closed out the 2024/25 season with 36 wins, level with Matthew Poon in the race for the Tony Cruz Award but narrowly denied on countback.

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 2025/26 season): 496 (win strike rate 5.9%).