The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Award
Winners: Douglas Whyte and Jerry Chau
Photos by @wallancewanck
He arrived in Hong Kong by default when suddenly named the last minute replacement for gonski apprentice Gary Lo. By the end of this season, apprentice Jerry Chau was not only mixing it up with the leading jockeys in Hong Kong, he was often being the tail wagging the older dogs. Well, something like that.
Photo by @WallaceWanck
In his corner as Mentor-In-Chief and his very own Yoda has always been Douglas Whyte.
Photo by @wallacewanck
Having been Champion Hong Kong Jockey for thirteen consecutive years, and knowing the lay of the land, the Kid and the Sheriff combined to have a remarkably successful season. They were the Batman and Robin of Hong Kong racing. Something like that.
What happens when Jerry Chau becomes a senior jockey? We’re tipping, he’ll still be riding for Douglas Whyte…as his stable jockey.
You were thinking that Jer might one day be riding as stable jockey for John Size??? Perish the thought.
……
Ride Of The Year A tie: Winners: A) Jerry Chau winning on Rainbow Light. Why? Because Douglas Whyte has mentioned to the media that it probably was “the ride of the season”. Who are we to argue?
Photo by @wallacewanck
B) Joao Moreira outfoxing his opponents while they were busy having a siesta with a very clever ride to win the Hong Kong Derby on the Caspar Fownes trained Sky Darci.
Photo by @wallacewanck
The Survivor Award
Trainer Peter Ho
Another very average year for the very average horse trainer and, rather predictably, another Trainer’s License for next season. Mediocrity has its privileges.
Trainer Of The Year Winner: Francis Lui
(Photo: Alex Evers)
Golden Sixty aside, and for whom he has always mapped out a meticulously campaign, the quietly spoken trainer has been very profitable to those who follow his gallopers and a stable he manages (and markets) extremely well.
Trending this year… Jockeyoga
The Mr Miyagi Bowing Award
Winner: Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO Hong Kong Jockey Club
Photo: @wallacewanck
The Harry Styles Style Award
Winner: Douglas Whyte
Photo by @wallacewanck
The Apple Sometimes Falls Far From The Tree Award Winner: Kara Whyte, daughter of you-know-who
The Moses Award
Winner: Joao Moreira
Photo by @wallacewanck
He didn’t part the Red Seas, but the Brazilian Magic Man did pretty much everything else this racing season- won the Hong Kong Jockey Championship, won the HK Derby, rode a four timer at the last Shatin meeting of this year making it 1001 winners in Hong Kong plus won two Group 1 races.
The Terminator Award
Photo by @wallacewanck The Zac Attack. He’ll be back! Bet on it!
The Size Doesn’t Matter Award Winner: Casibah
Photo by @wallacewanck
Poster Of The Year
Fabulous work by @LeeMingDonald