Hong Kong’s three representatives in Wednesday’s LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley were on hand, this morning at Sha Tin, for the allocation of mounts in the four championship races and came away with mixed fortunes.
Zac Purton, reigning HK champion jockey and runner-up in the past two IJC series, is hoping that drawing Win It – in the first championship race – will be a positive omen while this season’s premiership leader Joao Moreira and young gun Vincent Ho studied the draw intently and both concluded that they had, at least, drawn well enough to be in contention.
Moreira, the 2012 IJC winner, said he was ‘proud’ to be riding in the series. “It makes me feel proud to be part of it. It is a recognition and reward for hard work to be riding against the world’s best. It’s a tough job to win it and the barrier draw always plays a big part in the races at Happy Valley.
“I’ve drawn Griffindor for John Moore which is good. He’s a horse I’m familiar with and he’s drawn well. He could go close to winning and maybe if I can win one leg and have a couple of placings, that will be enough. I’m not that familiar with my other mounts but I’ll figure them out with the trainers.”
Purton said he was looking forward to the night’s competition but doubts he can go one better than his second placings behind Kerrin McEvoy last year and behind Moreira the year before. “At first look it’s going to be difficult with the rides I have but you never know in these challenges.
“The first couple I’ve drawn, Win It and Fire Starter, should run well. Win It’s a last start winner and I’ve won on him. I know the horse and if he can put two together and win the first heat, then at least I’ll be off to a flier,” Purton said.
Ho, who kicks off with the Caspar Fownes trained Southchina Command in the first leg (race four), said he thought his draw was ‘ok’. ‘I think most of my horses have some chance. I start with Southchina Command who could be an improver with blinkers first time and the step up to 1650m.
“It’s my first time competing in the Jockeys’ Championship and it’s a great honour to be participating and representing Hong Kong. Hopefully knowing the track gives me an advantage,” Ho said.
The Hong Kong based jockeys will be taking on the world’s best with their list of rivals reading like a jockey’s who’s who. Defending champion McEvoy and LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award winner Ryan Moore are joined by another previous winner Christophe Soumillon along with Pat Smullen, James McDonald, Richard Hughes, Yuichi Fukunaga, S’Manga Khumalo and Irad Ortiz Jr.
Wednesday night’s nine race card begins at 6.30pm with the first of the IJC races scheduled for 8.10pm.
