Chau hunts LONGINES IJC berth as Light Years Charm, Winning Wing trial ahead of Group 2 assignments

By Declan Schuster

Hunting one of the final spots in the 2026 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) next month, in-demand Jerry Chau heads to Happy Valley on Wednesday night (11 November) with a full book of nine mounts.

Chau, 26, is in superb form with 17 wins and a Group 3 success after 18 of the season’s 88 scheduled fixtures. Five meetings remain before the selection cut-off date (25 November) for the LONGINES IJC roster, with the final two spots open to the leading homegrown rider and the highest-ranked eligible rider.

Nichola Yuen (18 wins) is ineligible for selection as a seven-pound claiming apprentice, but Chau leads Vincent Ho (14), Andrea Atzeni (12), Derek Leung (11) and James Orman (10), who each remain in contention for the 12-rider competition on 9 December.

Akermanis Gold (135lb) is going for a hat-trick of wins at the city circuit under Chau when the duo lines up in the second section of the Class 4 Sze Mei Handicap (1650m).

“He’s won two in a row this season. He’s carrying top-weight and the draw (seven) is tricky, but if he can get a good position then, I think, he will finish off well,” Chau said.

Chau also rides Apolar Fighter, Majestic Delight, Iron Security, Ace, Mr Invincible, Leading Agility, Fivefortwo and last-start winner Lucky Sam Gor. Today (Tuesday, 10 November), he trialled David Eustace’s Light Years Charm ahead of Sunday week’s (22 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m).

“He trialled well. We discussed whether we would trial him over 1200 or 1650 (metres) and we ended up agreeing to trial him over 1650. The 1200 is a bit fast for him earlier and he’ll do too much. Over the 1650, he was able to settle behind, travel well and build up his confidence – I’m happy with him,” Chau said.

Light Years Charm finished third in 1m 42.23s, while Chau is also booked to ride Winning Wing, who trialled in 1m 09.92s (1200m), in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) for trainer Francis Lui.

“He trialled well. It was my first time on him. He felt good. He’s got a very good turn of foot, he was just a bit lazy early, but over 2000 he should be fine,” Chau said.

Light Years Charm is entered to run in next month’s HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) or HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (13 December).

Keith Yeung is hoping Nautical Force (123lb) can make his presence felt first-up in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Lung Cheung Handicap (1650m) for trainer John Size.

“I was really happy with his trial. I’ve trialled him a lot and I think John has done a really good job with him by taking his time with him to bring him to a race. I am hoping he will do well on Wednesday night,” Yeung said.

Yeung partnered Nautical Force in his most recent trial, where the Siu family-owned import was an impressive fourth in 1m 38.13s over 1600m at Conghua.

Yeung has three wins aboard New Power (131lb) and the duo reunites in tomorrow’s second section of the Class 4 Tai Yau Handicap (1200m) after a last-start fourth.

“I was held up a little bit in the straight, but when I got a clear run, he responded really well and finished strongly (last start),” Yeung said.

Following a three-timer last Sunday, Andrea Atzeni takes the reins on Mighty Masts (122lb) when the horse steps up in distance in the Lung Cheung Handicap (1650m).

Atzeni said: “He’s a horse that’s shown a bit of speed in the trials, but on race days, he doesn’t really have that early speed, so he gets himself a bit further back than you’d like.”

Cheerful Wongchoy (121lb) broke through on 14 October in Class 5, and trainer Douglas Whyte believes the gelding can handle returning to Class 4 in the first section of the Sze Mei Handicap (1650m).

“I think he won softly in the end; I was happy with that. I think he’s a Class 4 horse, I don’t think he necessarily had to drop to Class 5 to win. It was just circumstances that allowed me to run him there,” Whyte said.