Getting ready for December 7 and the Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Championship?
While many wait for Jamie Richards, now in his first season of training in Hong Kong to saddle up his second winner in the city, the marquee value lineup for the Hong Kong International Jockeys Championship is becoming more and more clear.
For us, the highlight and one new attraction to this annual event will be seeing riders Jamie Kah and Hollie Doyle on the same bill. It’s a Clash Of The Titans between today’s top two female riders in the world.
The Zac Man is, of course, already in the lineup as are Silvestre de Sousa, James McDonald, Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore, Vincent Ho, Mikael Barzalona, Yuga Kawada and Jye McNeil.
Here’s hoping that the very gifted Matthew Chadwick makes the cut as part of Team Hong Kong. He’s riding in phenomenal form though you wouldn’t know it from the photograph below.
Now, THIS is better, Matty!
WING CHUN(G)
More and more, he’s starting to remind those who remember that time when ten pound claiming apprentice Matthew Chadwick, also indentured to Tony Cruz, returned to Hong Kong and started to take the racing in the city by storm winning race after race.
When Angus Chung, Hong Kong’s latest apprentice, rated Circuit Elite to perfection and got the Tony Cruz trained runner home, the city’s “racing Uncles” couldn’t help smiling. Could it really be happening, they wondered? Were they seeing the next Tony Cruz or the new Matthew Chadwick?
While we’re seeing the renaissance period of Matthew Chadwick who’s in the Zone and riding very well, there will never be another Tony Cruz.
He was and is an original in every which way- definitely the talent, but also the personality and the reputation for being a perfectionist. Let’s not get into his star turns at karaoke sessions.
As mentioned a few years ago, Tony Cruz is the Bruce Lee of Hong Kong racing. He brought immense pride to the city with his successes in Europe as a jockey, and then when making his mark upon his return to Hong Kong.
He remains the most popular and respected person in Hong Kong racing, especially to those “racing uncles” who will always be his staunchest cheerleaders.
All this is not to take anything away from Angus Chung.
He racked up his ninth winner since arriving in Hong Kong at the start of the season when Circuit Elite gave him his first winner at Happy Valley at only his second time since being given permission to ride at the city. It’s a track not described as “difficult” for no reason.
Very few riders have conquered the tight Happy Valley track, and to do this at only one’s second visit there augurs well for Angus Chung.
By now, the young apprentice must realise that his “boss” is a tough task master with very precise instructions to those who do any riding for him and doesn’t take kindly to anyone “going rogue”- not even senior riders.
It’s obvious a couple of races later in the evening that he would have received a dressing down from his master when completely bungling the start on race favourite Beauty Glory.
Success in horse racing is such a delicate balancing act where one never stops learning, especially about the game of life.
Having watched Angus Chung riding in Adelaide when with John O’Connor, he definitely has the talent and, from everything we hear, also the off track disposition to succeed.
Now back in Hong Kong and competing regularly against world class seniors riders and being guided by Tony Cruz is not an opportunity every young rider has handed to them.
It certainly looks as if Angus Chung knows this and has grabbed the brass ring with both hands.
Don’t let go of it, Angus...
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Savvy Silvestre outfoxes the Tweety birds...
Though quite a few of us backed the Frankie Lor first starter Savvy Chic which was ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, surprising was to see it go off at such, well, succulent odds. It was another gem of a ride by the one-time former champion jockey of Britain.
Though somewhat surprised at being offered a riding license by the Hong Kong Jockey Club after the Brazilian spurned an offer to ride in Hong Kong for the big money on offer in Saudi Arabia, we now think, Why the hell not?
Everyone is out for themselves, so let’s not get sanctimonious and start swimming with the sharks in Hypocrisy Beach.
Moving right along and more importantly, depending on the luck of the draw and who rides what and where they’re drawn, it won’t surprise at all for Silvestre the Cat repeat his 2018 success by taking out the Hong Kong International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley next month.
And then? And then riding out his riding career in Hong Kong.
#HKIJC #HKracing #silvestredesousa #anguschung #tonycruz #anguschung #holliedoyle #jamiekah #horseracing
