Puerto Rican-born Irad Ortiz Jr has come a long way in a short time in North America's riding ranks and this week he gets the chance to shine on the world stage and cap a memorable 2014 when he contests the IJC Championship at Happy Valley.
The 22 year-old has already, this year, claimed his first Breeders’ Cup victory; ridden alongside his brother Jose in his Kentucky Derby debut and chalked up more than 270 wins, which is a record that demands that he not be underestimated against the world's best next week.
The 2014 Kentucky Derby website noted that the Ortiz brothers' rise to the top of the sport on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit had been 'extraordinarily quick'.
In 2011, Irad's first year in New York, he won 151 races and followed up in 2012 with 152 winners despite having relinquished his apprentice allowance. Then In 2013, Irad confirmed his ranking among the best with 223 winners from 1,508 mounts. At the time of writing, he'd notched another 273 wins this year for a career total of 799 and earnings of US$45 million plus. And, all the while, brother Jose has been riding winners at almost the same rate.
Irad, like his brother, is a graduate of Puero Rico's Escuela Vocacional H?pica which is a school for aspiring jockeys. His grandfather, also named Irad Ortiz, was a jockey and is expected to accompany his grandson to Hong Kong.
As children, Irad and Jose would sneak into Hipodromo Camarero in Puerto Rico, and watch their idols Angel Cordero Jr. and John Velazquez - both native Puerto Ricans and now Hall of Famers - who have mentored the brothers who became only the third pair of siblings, and the youngest, to compete in a Kentucky Derby.
Ortiz Jr. has established himself as one of North America's premier jockeys. This year he was the leading rider at Belmont’s fall meeting; he is currently the leading rider on the NYRA circuit and his first Breeders’ Cup success came aboard Lady Eli in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“I'm very excited about this trip, it's my first time going to Hong Kong and I want to thank everyone involved at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for giving me this chance,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz counts nine Group 1 victories on his CV and his appearance along with New Zealand-born James McDonald, who is also 22, means that Hong Kong fans will have the chance to see arguably the world's two best young riders in action.
Ortiz’s four LONGINES IJC rides are Panther Run, Golden Bauhinia, Novel Start and Supreme Wine.
