By Andrew Le Jeune
Umberto Rispoli was a familiar face in Hong Kong for several years. With his infectious smile and engaging personality, he enjoyed success at the very highest level. But returning to Happy Valley, a venue where he spent a significant chapter of his career, Rispoli isn’t on a sentimental journey; he’s here to compete.
By Daryl Timms
Champion Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira will make a sentimental return to the venue and event which catapulted him to worldwide acclaim when he rides in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on 10 December.
Moreira was Singapore-based when competing in the 2012 edition of the championship, when the title was still up for grabs going into the last leg of the four-race competition with Great Britain’s Ryan Moore and local champion Zac Purton among those still in contention.
By Leo Schlink
The battle between Vincent Ho and Jerry Chau for a prized berth as Hong Kong, China’s leading homegrown rider in next month’s LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) intensified at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (19 November) as the pair traded blows with doubles.
Chau temporarily took the lead in the standings with a race-to-race double for David Eustace to claim the lead as the top eligible homegrown jockey ahead of the 10 December LONGINES IJC before 2023 LONGINES IJC champion Ho fired back with a brace of his own.
By Declan Schuster
Sunday’s (23 November) Bank of China, Hong Kong (BOCHK) Race Day sees the jurisdiction’s preeminent horses clash at Sha Tin in three important lead-up races: the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m), HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).
David Hayes heads into Sunday’s (23 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin with perhaps the two leading chances: Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) and five-time Group 1 winner, Ka Ying Rising, plus seasoned veteran, Tomodachi Kokoroe, who has embarked on a stunning rise from Class 2 to Group 2 with three wins from three starts this season.
By Declan Schuster
My Wish hasn’t shirked a challenge on his road to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, in fact, he’s passed them all with flying colours, and Sunday’s (23 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) will be the rising star’s final stepping stone at Sha Tin before he takes aim at the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 14 December.
The battle for a place in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship sparked to life at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (12 November) when a host of riders landed blows in the fight for a coveted spot in the annual showcase.
It was freelance jockey Matthew Poon who took the biggest step towards the HK$1 million extravaganza as he claimed a double to kick off the evening’s action, moving on to six wins for the season.
