The graduates from our Apprentice Jockeys’ School (AJS) have enjoyed many accomplishments in recent years, all after emerging from the intensive programme the Club offers. While they all started as basic racing trainees, those on the path to becoming an apprentice will be engaged in roughly three or four years of curriculum, accredited by HKCAAVQ, and plenty of hands-on training. The AJS is equipped with mechanical horses, its own stables and horses, riding and fitness instructors along with sports psychologists. Felix Coetzee, the former South African champion jockey and regular partner of Hong Kong legend Silent Witness, is Chief Riding Instructor at the AJS.
Following successful completion of the demanding Hong Kong stage of training is an overseas placement with a successful trainer in New Zealand or Australia, hand-picked by the Racing Development Board, where trainees serve as an apprentice for another one or two years.
Current Hong Kong apprentice Matthew Poon, for example, was allocated to former Group 1 winning jockey and now leading Adelaide trainer Richard Jolly before returning to Hong Kong to compete against some of the world’s finest riders. Matthew was South Australia’s champion apprentice last season and was a contender for South Australian champion jockey before returning to Hong Kong where he has ridden 20 winners in just 113 rides.
AJS Graduates in the last decade include Matthew Chadwick, a four-time Group 1 winner when partnering California Memory, Derek Leung, the current leader in the race for this season’s Tony Cruz Award, and Keith Yeung, who surpassed 200 career wins in Hong Kong earlier this season.
More than 20 percent of our races this season have been won by graduates of the Apprentice Jockeys’ School who are currently riding in our races. Quite a few of our trainers have come through the AJS too, transitioning into roles in the stables and growing to the rank of trainer. Almost 40 percent of our race winners this season have been trained by graduates of the Club’s AJS.
Even if a trainee does not qualify for the apprentice jockey path, they have the chance to take up a wide range of posts in the racing industry. From work riders to farriers, equestrian assistants, and even veterinary clinical technicians, trainees can find their own path and launch a racing-related career. Our current racing trainee recruitment campaign is well underway and lasts until 19 July. So if you, or someone you know, is interested exploring a career in racing, please visit our Racing Development Board website and tender your application there.
Tonight we will arrange our final simulcast meeting of this season, headlined by a diverse group in a fascinating renewal of the Eclipse Stakes from Sandown in the U.K. We shall see if St. James’s Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy, and Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher – the former stepping up from the mile while the latter dropping down from a mile and a half – can deliver in their first attempt against elders.
For our races at Sha Tin tomorrow, we will host the Hong Kong Riding for the Disabled Association Cup. The RDA, funded by our Charities Trust, has been a mainstay in our community for more than 40 years, and has such a tremendous impact on those it serves. I wish them much continued success as their great work continues.
There is some significant middle-distance quality in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap in Race 9 over 2000m. In this event, the pace should be good, with Doyeni and Basic Trilogy likely to go forward, and Green Dispatch also a possible leader too. Rocketeer and Prawn Baba should settle in tracking positions with Renaissance Art and Happilababy behind. General Sherman and Andoyas will be near the back with Helene Charisma and Dinozzo.
Green Dispatch has been in solid form of late and takes a step up into Class 2, getting a seven-pound claim from Dylan Mo, which should be quite helpful. Carrying 16 pounds more is Rocketeer, who broke through with a first Hong Kong win in eye-catching fashion last time, and I think both are strong win and place chances, with the edge going to Rocketeer. Dinozzo had a solid win over 1800m earlier this season and is a hope once again, drawing the ride of Joao Moreira, who was aboard for that last success. Helene Charisma has a wide draw, but might need a farther trip, though he is still a place hope.
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