(AND WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE UP THE JOCKEYS CHALLENGE)
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Jockeys Challenge with the starting odds and looking for value has become quite a talking point – and some really good fun.
The way we look at is that the Club frames these opening odds for the Challenge based mainly on the number of rides of a jockey.
And jockeys like Brett Prebble and Douglas Whyte nearly always have full books of rides and so start at pretty short odds.
As we all should know by now, just like size doesn’t matter, it’s all about quality not quantity.
Prebble and Whyte might have full books of rides, but many could be real duds.
This is now starting to be proven over and over again – especially at Happy Valley – and where young Vincent C Y Ho, for example, rides this track just as well as the big boys.
At the October 6th meeting, the very much unheralded Terry C W Wong managed to ride his first double in three years.
And won the Jockeys Challenge to boot and made us look VERY stupid.
Why? We said we’d pack up and leave the day he achieved this feat!
Others who are worth taking on board to break the so-called stranglehold of the two top jockeys in these Jockey Challenges are Matthew Chadwick and Zac Purton – and who are always at good odds.
Meanwhile, wouldn’t the crowning of the winners of these “Jockey Challenges” at Happy Valley where someone is named KING OF THE VALLEY have a better ring to it and take this concept into sponsorship-land?
We think so.
And also bring the Trainers into the Challenge.
But for the time being, it’s the Jockeys Challenge and so, if a newbie to racing, who are the players and why should you care?
Here are our mini-bios of some of the jockeys riding in these challenges.
TERRY C W WONG
We wrote that we didn’t see him riding in Hong Kong for much longer.
And how, if he did, he would need to ride some winners pretty quickly.
We wrote how we could not see him doing this and how he might be Macau-bound.
The day he wins a Jockeys Challenge, we wrote, is the day we pack up and leave.
So, what happens?
He must have read what we had to say and to make us eat humble pie, at the October 6th meeting at Happy Valley, he rides TWO winners – AND wins the Jockeys Challenge!
DOUGLAS WHYTE
Hong Kong Champion Jockey for eleven consecutive years.
The South African-born jockey, known as “The Durban Demon”, has broken every record in Hong Kong worth breaking.
At his most awesome best when riding for trainer John Size in Shatin.
Riding for Size at Happy Valley? Eh.
Also has a strong rapport with trainer Dennis C H Yip.
Known to get on and off horses – but, as he says, “Mate, why would I want to ride a horse that cannot win?”
Smart, professional and he cannot have achieved what he has by being a knob and dullard.
BRETT PREBBLE
Australian Prebble seems to have resigned to the fact that he’ll always be the bride’s maid but never Hong Kong’s Champion Jockey.
Two seasons ago, he saw what appeared to be an unassailable lead of 15 winners chipped away by Whyte – and who pipped him on the post.
Prebble, so they say, is a choker.
Sure, at his best, he can be brilliant.
When not at his best, he ends up, well, second best.
Is at his best when riding for trainers Caspar Fownes, David Hall – plenty of good new ones in his yard- and Dennis C H Yip.
DARREN BEADMAN
Stable jockey for trainer John Moore and one of the living legends of the turf in Australia.
He might be getting on in age, but he is still the toughest jockey in a finish.
Seems very content with his lot in life in Hong Kong.
He is on a very handsome retainer with a trainer who is always aiming at winning the big Cup races.
Is he in demand by other stables when not riding for Moore?
Of course he is.
But we’ll only raise an eyebrow whenever he rides something for trainer Manfred “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” Man (K L Man).
Man knows Beadman from the days when he was Assistant Trainer to Moore and the pair have combined for some well-planned plunges.
Does Beadman think about winning these Jockey Challenges?
Possibly when racing at Shatin and Moore brings out his good big guns …
GERARD MOSSE
Also known as “The Swordsman” for his “internal fortitude.”
Mosse has won more Group 1 races than any jockey riding in Hong Kong.
Last year, he won the Melbourne Cup aboard “Americain”.
The man is an absolute genius of a jockey and can even make “goats” look like champions.
He rides for anyone and everyone wants him, but is at his most dangerous when riding for Tony Cruz in any Cup race.
Rode a winner at his first time back riding in Hong Kong this season.
Gerard Mosse is timeless and ageless and VERY VERY Special.
ZAC PURTON
Some call him The Zac Attack and like craving for a Big Mac, Purton is always hungry for a winner.
Look at the horses on which he has done the most track work.
Keep following these and any horses he might ride for John Size.
Purton is a VERY good jockey and Size always books jockeys who he knows can do the job for him.
MATTHEW CHADWICK
He has gone from boom apprentice to being a very fine senior jockey.
Of course, he is at his best when riding for his old boss – trainer Tony Cruz – and is well – known for his penchant of leading on horses and dictating the speed of a race.
This is how Cruz likes them ridden.
Rarely has any outside rides worth much chance.
A very good jockey and never to be counted out.
DEREK K C LEUNG
Was in Chadwick’s long shadow for way too long when an apprentice, but is now his own man. And senior jockey.
He has put aside his numerous suspensions aside, he now knows not to drop his whip and is maturing into being one very good senior jockey.
Watch him when he rides for Derek Cruz, his old boss, Paul O’Sullivan and Tony Millard.
This boy is going to be VERY good.
Might have to be gelded as he’s growing quite tall.
JEFF LLOYD
As old as Methuselah and as crafty as a fox.
A very good “second stringer” for trainer John Moore and a very experienced jockey.
Lloyd is a team player – depending on the team.
Rides for almost everyone and someone who always pops up at decent odds.
Tough to beat in a finish despite being almost 100 years old.
OLIVIER DELOUZE
Flamboyant French jockey who is never shy to show the thrill of winning.
He jumps off the horse, kisses the ground, gives Thanks to the Big Guy above and revs up the crowd.
The local race goers love Ollie’s antics and theatrics.
So do we.
Never ever boring, Ollie is a good strong rider and probably deserves more support than he receives.
Also very much into martial arts, one of the best-dressed jockeys in Hong Kongand said to “smell” very good.
BRETT DOYLE
Like The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, Englishman Doyle is having a great start to the season.
Very underrated in our books, follow him when he rides for Derek Cruz and/or Sean Woods.
Reminds us of Austin Powers.
Must be those English teeth.
TYE ANGLAND
An Aussie and the tallest jockey riding in Hong Kong.
A former rodeo rider, this bloke could play for the LA Lakers if he wasn’t white.
Very strong in a finish and watch him when on any horses for, well, anyone.
Looks like his early partnership with Derek Cruz has gone “awry”- but he is getting rides from everyone.
We also hear that he is a bloody good bloke.
VINCENT C Y HO
Easily the best apprentice in Hong Kong – and a damn nice kid.
He has become a much stronger jockey, he tries damn hard and is a MUST to follow when riding for his master – trainer Caspar Fownes.
Follow him on anything.
We are very big fans of young Vinnie!
ALEX H W LAI
An Okay local jockey who has a Group 1 winner amongst his credentials.
He is what we call a “value” jockey.
None of his horses are ever hot-pots, but he can bob up anytime without surprising.
Pay attention to him whenever he rides for trainer Ricky P F Yiu.
Usually wins two races or none at all.
HOWARD Y T CHENG
As “enigmatic” as some of the horses he rides and not the most “pretty” jockey to watch .
One can never leave Howard The Duck out, but we also have no idea when to put him in.
Wait: Follow him on any horse which has the word “Caga” in its name and also whenever Surfer Boy runs at Happy Valley.
Like Alex H W Lai, usually wins two races or none at all.
EDDY W M LAI
Eddy W M Lai just keeps going around and around.
Not a bad jockey and actually better than most think – though certainly no Dettori.
“Fast” Eddie seems to perform best on sprinters trained by Gary T K Ng – as long as they are drawn good barriers.
Once in a while, he’ll win a Cup race or something over 1200 metres and which would leave many of us gob-smacked.
Lovely guy and has been part of the Hong Kong jockeys racing fraternity for what seems like an eternity.
One of the more easily forgettable jockeys.
In fact, so forgettable we almost left him out of this list.
ALVIN K C NG
“The Chipmunk” returned to Hong Kong from New Zealand after having had over 800 rides.
The kid still claims a full ten pounds but we are starting to wonder if he can measure up to all the early hype.
Though much in demand ‘cos of his weight allowance, his rides start at very silly odds.
Seeing nearly all of them flop as favourites – especially at Happy Valley -has become par for the course.
Back off and let the kid find his legs.
BEN T H SO
Very much improved apprentice jockey who we never thought would make it.
Always dangerous when riding for his master – trainer Peter L Ho.
Seems to do much better at Happy Valley.
KEITH M L YEUNG
Very much improved jockey who has a very good strike rate when riding for trainer John Size.
And John Size knows who are good jockeys and uses apprentices wisely.
Yeung cannot be ignored, but his rides so far this season seem to lack the promise he was showing last season.
Still, these are early days.
Used by a variety of trainers though indentured to the stable of trainer Almond Lee.
TIM CLARK
The new kid in town – from Oz.
Just follow him on everything.
He has one winner on the board and is hungry for more.
Has support from all stables though we hear that the trainer who supported him the most in the beginning – David Ferraris – is no longer using him.
Could be a blessing!
Now getting more and more rides from the John Moore yard – especially those horses where other jockeys cannot make the weight – keep him safe.
MARK DU PLESSIS
Hard working jockey who gets the job done – when given a bloody chance.
Rode a peach of a race recently for John Size on Young Turbo.
One is only as good as the horses one gets to ride.
Because of this – a lack of decent rides – not a serious Jockey Challenge candidate.
GREG CHEYNE
We are actually quite surprised that South African-born Cheyne is still here.
Articulate, well-mannered, but not exactly the greatest jockey in the world.
Might be better off riding in Macau.
Nice guy but perhaps not really good enough for Hong Kong.
Doesn’t exactly get many rides and is never a Jockey Challenge candidate.
JACKY C K TONG
A real trier and who has already ridden three winners this season.
Is getting some support and is known to do the best he can with what little comes his way.
One of the jockeys you need to put in your tierces for value.
Ever win a Jockey Challenge?
Nah. But that’s what we said about Terry C W Wong.
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