19/3/2019
Dylan Mo has graduation in his sights at Happy Valley
By Declan Schuster
Dylan Mo heads into Wednesday¡¦s (20 March) eight-race card at Happy Valley only one win away from his 70th career success and the 25 year old is upbeat about his chances of notching that apprenticeship-ending victory.
¡§I have a couple of good chances; all of them are in very good form,¡¨ Mo said.
Mo has six rides on the night, including last start-winner Circuit Glory in the feature, the Class 1 Happy Valley Vase (1800m).
The Tony Cruz-trained galloper led all the way last start and Mo is expecting him to hold his form on Wednesday night.
¡§This race is a very small field (8 runners), so I will try my best to stay calm and ride the horse so that I can give him every chance to win¡¨
Another of his mounts on the night comes up in the last race with the Peter Ho-trained Magnificent (Race 8), who dead-heated with Encouraging in his most recent start.
¡§The horse he shared the win with won on Sunday, so this one also is a good chance¡¨ Mo said.
Encouraging went on to score an all-the-way win at Sha Tin at the weekend and in doing so sealed a hat-trick.
¡§The form is good, everything is good, and Magnificent is stronger than last time,¡¨ Mo added.
The apprentice has tallied 20 wins so far this season, a testament to his hard work and determination.
After joining the Hong Kong Jockey Club¡¦s Apprentice Jockeys¡¦ School, Mo was sent on an overseas placement in 2013, first to South Africa and then, in 2014, to New Zealand where he was apprenticed to Allan Sharrock.
Mo¡¦s overseas experience provided a good grounding for a return to Hong Kong as apprentice to Danny Shum and he scored his first win aboard Fish N¡¦ Chips on 1 January, 2017.
¡§I will never forget my first win in Hong Kong!¡¨ he said.
Mo¡¦s supportive parents will be in attendance on Wednesday at Happy Valley in anticipation of a graduation win.
¡§I like doing this and my parents have been very supportive, this is my career and my hobby.¡¨ he said.
Mo has been noted as a hard-worker and the Hong Kong native has overcome a number of injuries and setbacks across his career, including a dislocated hip in March last year which sidelined him for a substantial stretch.
The challenge of transitioning to the senior ranks is one that motivates Mo.
¡§It¡¦s the next step, the next level, so I need to try and get the opportunities and support, I am looking forward to it, I will try my best¡¨ he said.
Frankie Lor makes history at Sha Tin with Derby win
Furore gave Frankie Lor his first BMW Hong Kong Derby at the weekend and the Hugh Bowman-ridden galloper¡¦s triumph in the HK$18 million race is still sinking in.
¡§It was like a dream. We got him there in good form and then it was down to the jockey and he did a good job,¡¨ Lor said.
Lor now heads to Happy Valley with another Derby winner, the 2017 G1 Queensland Derby victor, Ruthven, who will aim for a revival at his Happy Valley debut in the Class 1 Happy Valley Vase (1800m).
¡§He¡¦s never been to Happy Valley, so it¡¦s new for him but he¡¦s dropped to Class 1, he should be okay at 1800 metres and he¡¦s had a break.¡¨ said an optimistic Lor.
¡§He hasn¡¦t had a problem - we just decided to give him a bit of time,¡¨ he added.
Ruthven had an issue last spring but Lor insists that he is sound and ready to run ¡V having not raced since a sub-par 12th in December¡¦s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
¡§He had a problem with his suspensory in his right hind, so sometimes he¡¦s not 100 percent when he trots. But he¡¦s not sore, he looks well so we¡¦ll let him race,¡¨ the trainer said.
Ruthven is one of two chances from the Lor yard with the two-time winner Turin Redstar set to take his place.
¡§I think the 1800 metres should be good for him - it won't be a problem so he should run a good race,¡¨ he said.
This will be Turin Redstar¡¦s first attempt at racing beyond 1650m but Frankie Lor is expecting improvement to come as he steps up to 1800m.
¡§I still think he can improve a little bit and de Sousa will ride him,¡¨ he added.
The Happy Valley action kicks off at 7:15pm with the Class 5 Briar Handicap (1650m).
Photo 1
Dylan Mo celebrates following his win aboard Hay Run.
Photo 2
Dylan Mo following his first win aboard Fish N¡¦ Chips.
