A quick glance down the list of previous winners tells you all you need to know about the calibre of rider needed to win the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship.
From Douglas Whyte and Ryan Moore to Zac Purton and Joao Moreira through to Frankie Dettori and Christophe Soumillon, the world’s most sought-after jockey challenge is a contest that brings out the very best in elite riders and this year’s 12-strong line-up is blessed with an excellent mix of proven talent and potential stars.
It is great to see Ryan back in Hong Kong again as he bids to equal Douglas’s record of three IJC titles. His 2020 campaign has been heavily impacted by Covid-related travel restrictions but he looks to have drawn some solid chances as he builds to a potentially historic date with Magical in Sunday’s LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.
Eight years have passed since Joao Moreira first exploded onto the local scene with an IJC win. Our current leading rider left Singapore to make Hong Kong his home soon after and will bid for his second IJC win with an impressive record of 21 winners from 80 rides at the Valley this season.
Zac and Joao both welcomed our new system designed to provide a more even spread of chances among competing riders at the IJC allocation event and, as the early IJC Jockey Challenge odds suggest, this is a year when a number of riders will head to Happy Valley with high hopes of landing the HK$500,000 first prize.
Joao also touched on the challenges of riding a demanding course like the Valley, suggesting that local knowledge is an advantage but reminding us all that high quality international riders reach that level at least in part because they prepare thoroughly and adapt quickly to new challenges.
Those riders certainly include Hollie Doyle, who has attracted huge publicity in and outside racing after her breakthrough season in Britain.
Hollie’s position as a role model to other young sportswomen is highly significant and that was very evident when she took part in a Zoom call with three of the Club’s racing trainees – namely Nichola Yuen, Ivy Lam and Britney Wong, as well as apprentice jockey Scarlet So who is now in race training in Australia, on Tuesday morning.
We wish Hollie and her rivals – including her partner Tom Marquand – all the very best for this year’s IJC. The atmosphere off the track will be very different than normal without the normal party atmosphere but the action on it will be as intense as ever on a night which will showcase Hong Kong racing all over the world again.
The fourth and final leg of the IJC is a Class 3 over 1200 metres, which is carded as the eighth of nine races on the night.
Zac Purton will be positive on Flying Bonus and drive forward to make the pace along with Ryan Moore on Grateful Heart and Hollie Doyle on Harmony N Blessed. The pace will be good.
Harmony N Blessed was very impressive winning on debut last month at Sha Tin and is a win and place chance to remain perfect. He has trialled well at the Valley and is in light at the weights as he steps up in grade.
Grateful Heart has won his last two races in this class over course and distance, and has drawn the inside gate. He will be in the mix from the start and is a place chance. Beauty Spark comes off a sharp effort in his last start and will get every chance from his good draw. He is a place chance along with the in-form Lucky Quality.
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