To be recognised as a global brand with a world-class racing product, we need global talents – especially star jockeys and trainers as well as high-quality horses. Each of them is essential to our brand.
The ability to attract the world’s best to Hong Kong is integral to the Club’s goal of developing top-class local talents who, ultimately, are then able to compete at the highest levels internationally.
Talent without opportunity in any sphere of life is a wasted gift. As a Club, and one of Hong Kong’s largest employers, we are committed to helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life realise their potential.
One of the most powerful tools at the Club’s disposal is the presence of a world-class cluster of expatriate horsemen – jockeys, trainers and stable staff – who have been able to impart extensive knowledge to talented young locals.
For me, Hong Kong has the most international and diverse racing product in the world considering our trainer and jockey ranks are drawn from Australia, Brazil, England, France, New Zealand and South Africa as well as a growing local talent pool. All of our horses are imported.
As an example of the diversity of Hong Kong racing, the BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci was bred in New Zealand and led home Irish-born Russian Emperor and Chilean-raised Panfield. Last Sunday’s Queen Mother Memorial Cup winner Butterfield was bred in Brazil – more proof of the cosmopolitan nature of our racing.
Australia’s Zac Purton (four titles) and Brazil’s Joao Moreira (three) have dominated the past seven seasons with a combined seven jockeys’ championships and with 2333 wins collectively (Zac has 1271, Joao has 1062), the pair is key among an ensemble of incredible world-class competitors helping young, upcoming riders improve.
For this reason, it is important that the Club attracts jockeys such as Karis Teetan, Alexis Badel, Antoine Hamelin, Chad Schofield and not the least Blake Shinn to add to the talent pool while for the trainers John Size – with 11 championships and narrowly ahead in this season’s race from Caspar Fownes – has helped mould many aspiring handlers, including Frankie Lor, who is now challenging his former master in the standings.
When John’s winning strike rate in Group races is considered, it is clear why Hong Hong’s emerging trainers have been able to benefit from John’s presence in Hong Kong. John is rightly globally-regarded as one of the premier trainers in the world.
He has not only trained 1316 Hong Kong winners – many at the highest level – since arriving from Australia in 2001, but his influence on people such as Frankie Lor is immeasurable. Apart from his own success, I am sure John takes pride in Frankie’s achievement, too.
While Hong Kong has always produced tremendous racing talents including Vincent Ho and Derek Leung who, as illustrated in last week’s blog have successfully progressed through the Club’s Apprentice Jockey School, the number of home-grown trainers currently excelling is equally remarkable.
As John Size (59) and Caspar Fownes (58) continue an engrossing rivalry at the top of the trainers’ championship, the presence of Frankie Lor (53), Danny Shum (51) and Francis Lui (51) within striking distance is no accident.
Whether directly or indirectly, Frankie, Danny and Francis have improved because of the presence of men such as John Size, John Moore, Caspar Fownes, and David Hayes who is now up and running during his second stint here.
It was important for the Club to attract David – a dual champion trainer – back to Hong Kong to fill the gap left by John Moore’s departure. This again demonstrates our drive for excellence.
The influence of established home-grown operators such as dual champion trainer Tony Cruz, Ricky Yiu and Dennis Yip, also both championship-winning trainers, adds to a rare mix of energy, ambition and innovation.
In a sense, Hong Kong is racing’s ultimate finishing school.
As an example, Frankie worked for both John Moore and John Size, soaking up knowledge and expertise from the champion Australian trainers, who collectively boast 18 Hong Kong training titles. It is hardly coincidence that Frankie has done so well, so quickly – winning two features at the LONGINES HKIR meeting as well as the BMW Hong Kong Derby in just his second season in 2018/19.
Similarly, Danny Shum learned his craft from the legendary Ivan Allan, advancing to Royal Ascot success with Little Bridge. The list goes on.
On a similar tangent, the Club’s management team is regarded as one of the most diverse and influential in international racing bodies with a reputation for global leadership through the Asian Racing Federation and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
Many of our leading officials hold senior positions in international racing bodies or serve on committees overseeing different aspects of the sport’s global development.
An abiding Club objective is to congregate the world’s best operators in Hong Kong and given the attractive nature of racing here, we have been able to do that for many years. While the trainers and jockeys who have been licensed here are primary beneficiaries of making the move to Hong Kong, the long-term beneficiaries are our local talents.
Even if an established trainer has not been directly involved with an expat handler, the incredibly competitive nature of Hong Kong racing means there is a flow on effect. In essence, the bar is constantly on the rise.
It is a similar tale with the jockeys with Joao Moreira, Zac Purton and, previously, Douglas Whyte taking excellence in the saddle to new heights.
As an emerging trainer, Douglas is now actively assisting Jerry Chau who, in his first full season is excelling, while Joao and Zac – while intensively competitive and ambitious – are always available to help emerging riders with feedback and, just as native Hong Kong trainers are making telling progress, so have our jockeys.
In 2016/17, Derek Leung was the only locally-born rider to command a place in the top 10 in the season-ending jockey championship standings with 25 wins.
Ahead of him were nine expatriates headed by Joao (170) and Purton (107). Over five intervening seasons, the composition of the top 10 has steadily undergone significant transformation.
After 68 meetings this season, while Joao (117 wins so far) and Zac (101) continue a remarkable arch-rivalry, it’s clear the winds of change continue to blow with five homegrown jockeys now resident in the top 10.
Leading the charge, Vincent (49) sits fourth behind Karis Teetan (57), but ahead of Jerry (36), Derek (36), Matthew Poon (28) and Matthew Chadwick (26).
With 20 meetings left in the season, it will be fascinating to watch this trend develop and flourish.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Class 2 Hok Yuen Handicap over 1200m is the final race of the meeting and the last race at the Valley for two weeks. Next Wednesday will be at Sha Tin.
Igniting (Matthew Poon) looks like the clear leader with only California Rad (Matthew Chadwick) and Handsome Bo Bo (Alexis Badel) in close pursuit. The pace will be good.
Handsome Bo Bo overcame wide draws in his last two starts to finish second on both occasions. He can go one better here from a good draw and is a win and place chance. In his most recent start, Handsome Bo Bo was very wide in the early stages and still fought on well in a big effort. He has since trialled at Conghua and should get every chance from the box seat.
Will Power (Jerry Chau) and Wind N Grass (Karis Teetan) have a lot in common as they have drawn wide and perform well over the course and distance. They will both do their running from the back and are place chances. Snap Fit (Vincent Ho) is up in grade after returning from a break to win last Wednesday before the rain began to fall at the midway point in the meeting. He is also a place chance.
California Rad has four wins over the course and distance and is also a place chance.
Comment
