Athletes have always been like Rock stars and like Rock stars, athletes have doors open fast for them and with faster women and a faster lifestyle being part of their baggage.
Though Frankie Dettori, Christophe Soumillon, Olivier Peslier and a few other jockeys share Rock Star status, others have not made the grade. Except in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, if a successful trainer or jockey, doors open, champagne pops and even if a restaurant is full, waiters will jock off customers to ensure a table is suddenly available.
Then there are the owners who act like groupies and can’t do enough to be a mate. Want a car? Sure, which model? Want a model? Sure, what nationality? Want me to kiss your ass in the sauna?
We have seen it, first hand, and people like Callander The Younger can rant and rave about racing in Oz and attempt to put down racing in Hong Kong, but all this does is make a knob of one’s self and with even Aussies in Hong Kong laughing him off as being parochial, jealous, racing’s answer to the self-promotional and delusional Donald Trump and someone who is seriously geographically challenged.
Hats off to Richie Callander’s great charity work, but let’s turn down the peanuts envy light and let reality bites attack him like The Day Of The Locusts so he becomes a Johnny Nash song and can see clearly now.
Hong Kong is a unique and addictive place and where many come to visit and stay forever. As an expat jockey told us recently, “People ask me when I’m coming back to Oz. What for? I love the racing in Hong Kong, I enjoy the lifestyle and the mates I have made here. Unless living here, few will understand why nowhere else compares to Hong Kong and how, with racing in China sure to happen sooner than many think, this will open up the industry like never before.”
It’s against this background and the HKJC’s leadership role in the world of racing that International Race Week begins in earnest next week.
While racing in Victoria and NSW are in dire straits and with Mark Knopfler playing in the background, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Bill Nader and the rest of the HKJC troops will produce the Greatest Show On Turf to the world whereas off the track, what happens in Wanchai will stay in Wanchai. Maybe.
Staying with racing, who are the major players? Well apart from those at 1 Sports Road who actually have real clout and not those who are legends in their own lunchtime, here is our list:
DOUGLAS WHYTE AND JOHN SIZE
Hong Kong’s Champion jockey for twelve consecutive seasons and looks set to break the unlucky 13 barrier.
The complete professional and whose talents were first noticed by the late great Ivan Allen from whom we learnt much, this South African jockey is one part businessman, two parts very good rider and excellent PR man: He can spot a horse waiting to win at a thousand paces and goes gunning for the ride.
Though a great record with trainers Dennis Yip and Tony Cruz, he is at his most lethal when riding for trainer John Size.
This is a Dream Team without peer and with Glorious Days predicted on International Day.
Other facts and figures: Spent a life-changing few months with The Horse Whisperer, Monty Roberts.
He rarely if ever rides for Tony Millard after the dramas surrounding Ambitious Dragon nor rides for Caspar Fownes and wears more jewellery on his hands than Mr. T ever wore when with the A Team. He has MASSIVE hands. And you know what they say about a man with massive hands: He washes up after dinner.
“Pity that fool, Whyte.”
Enjoys a good wine, a good cigar, Italian cuisine and runs away from the old songs of Bob Dylan. Too many words for his head.
Dougie Whyte ages prematurely while listening to the works of Bob Dylan.
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ZAC PURTON
“Haw haw, I made you look like a Muppet. Muppet.”
As anyone in Oz would know, the talent was always there, but the potential remained untapped. Somehow the penny dropped last season and this season Zac Purton has become a lethal Zac Attack.
“Wait: After two comes THREE????”
Despite lack of support from many of the leading stables- we don’t think he has had even one ride from Tony Cruz and John Size- the jockey really has done the best he can with what he has been given and which has yielded winners and his never-say-die attitude and riding skills having won over the public and the fickle in a pickle local racing media. Winning at Ascot and taking out the Japan Super Series last week has catapulted him to the International league and which has built up the Zac Purton brand.
Of all the Aussie jockeys riding anywhere in the world, we believe he is the only one who can truly make it in Europe and competing with the very best.
Having officially become Mr Nicole Cassidy last week, the old battle cry of “Show me your titties” has been, sadly, silenced forever.
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BRETT PREBBLE AND JOHN MOORE
For a few seasons, it was all about the rivalry with Dougie White, but those days are now long gone.
This season has been a career changing one for Brett Prebble. His hookup with John Moore, his ongoing partnerships with Caspar Fownes and- shudder- David Hall, being in demand with every other stable and having won the Melbourne Cup on Green Moon has, like Zac Purton built up Brand Prebble.
One day soon, all these brands will need to be answered and it just might mean something much talked about- sponsorship- and which will change the face of racing forever- but looking at things more close at hand- Brett Prebble could be in line for a brilliant International Day along with trainer John Moore. Moore the merrier indeed.
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MATTHEW CHADWICK AND TONY CRUZ
He’s come of age this season and it might have to do with his off-season stint in the UK and which has made Matty Chadwick a far more all-round jockey.
Those days of either always leading in a race or being in the leading three or four in a race are still there but his repertoire has extended. He can now ride and win from anywhere including coming way off the pace and being much stronger in a finish. And always such a happy lad. Look.
Watching over him like a hawk and proud-and stern- father is Tony Cruz. Having been a champion jockey in Hong Kong and Europe, Cruz knows the ins, outs and sideways of racing and nothing gets past him. He is a tough task master and with Chadwick enrolled in one of best riding schools run by a very strong-minded mentor with a very good Public Relations person in wife Pauline.
Not one for small talk and blowing air kisses and calling people “dahling” and “sweetie”, this all frees Cruz to get on with the job of training winners and singing California Dreaming and California Memory to himself. Never underestimate Cruz Control and his secret Cruz missiles. Sometimes, we wonder if he even surprises himself.
“Puta, man, I pull the strings, okay? I pulled too hard.”
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THE SUPPORTING CAST
The Hobbit is The Quiet Achiever as is Tye Angland. Both are extremely strong riders and ride for almost every stable though not nearly enough as they should but this is the competitive nature of the place where you’re only as good as your last winner. It keeps everyone on their toes.
We still watch The Hobbit’s ride on Destined For Glory and marvel at how he threw everything at the horse to down the Maxime Guyon-ridden Ambitious Dragon. It was a brilliant ride.
We marvel even more at his dance steps- he still does The Moonwalk- and his upcoming line of Oompa Loompa Gear created with his pal Paris Hilton, below, and the opening of his theme park- Hobbitville.
Other jockeys to follow are Robbie Fourie, Umberto Rispoli and ignore Gerard Mosse at your peril on a big race day like the one on Sunday. Being the great Swordsman that he is, Monsieur Parrot always rises to the occasion and be scared, very scared when he’s on a horse by any of the French trainers.
On that note, see you at the races next week.
Gerard Mosse, The Parrot and Swordsman
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