By Alan Carasso
A dozen of the best jockeys from all corners of the globe–four based locally and eight from overseas–come together Wednesday evening at Hong Kong's iconic Happy Valley Racecourse for the Longines International Jockeys' Championship. Widely recognized as the premier contest of its kind, the IJC carries total prize money of HK$1 million, to be divided up three ways, with the winner taking home a checque for HK$600,000, while the second- and third-place finishers earn HK$250,000 and HK$150,000, respectively.
Vincent Ho, best known for his association with the now retired three-time G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) found the podium in the IJC in 2018, 2019 and 2022 before just getting the better of Zac Purton– Hong Kong's perennial leading rider–in 2023. Ever humble, Ho is relishing another crack at displaying his talents on this stage.
“Since I started my riding career, I always wanted to be one of the IJC participating jockeys and now I treasure every opportunity to be part of it and enjoying it,” he said. “All the participating jockeys are experienced world-class riders, on and off the track we have plenty of chances to share. This is really a golden chance to improve yourself.”
Purton, who is within striking distance of breaking the all-time record for wins in Hong Kong currently held by Douglas Whyte, took out the IJC for the first time in 2017 before adding victories in 2020 and 2021. The Aussie's four rides on Wednesday each drew low gates, never a negative at Happy Valley, but Purton is downplaying his chances.
“I would have preferred a bit more quality there,” Purton said. “I think I have my work cut out for me.”
Among the overseas challenge are Hollie Doyle, who became the first female to win a leg of the IJC en route to finishing a joint-third in 2020, and Rachel King, English by birth and now a successful jockey in Sydney.
“It's an honour to be selected,” says Doyle, who rode the 1000th winner of her career at Goodwood this past September. “The HKJC pick jockeys from the best around the world that they know will be competitive and serious in their attempt to win the trophy. It creates quite an intense atmosphere.
“We all get on great,” she continued. “We know each other from travelling the world, but everyone is there for only one thing, and that is to win. It is the atmosphere it should be when you are riding at that level, competing for that amount of money. It's intense, and that's how I like it really.”
Ryan Moore last won the IJC in 2010, following his three-way dead-heat the year prior, and makes the short trip down from Japan, where he rode Dura Erede (Jpn) to a close third in the G1 Champions Cup at the weekend. He, too, always looks forward to the IJC
“Racing in Hong Kong is probably the most competitive in the world and I'm always delighted to take part when I'm asked,” he said. “You do always have a chance because [Happy Valley is] that sort of track and the horses are evenly matched. But there could just be a standout in one leg, one that's ahead of his mark, that's just the nature of racing.”
Completing the 2024 IJC field are: William Buick representing Great Britain alongside Doyle; Mickael Barzalona (France); Colin Keane (Ireland); Yuga Kawada (Japan); James McDonald (New Zealand), Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan (Hong Kong, China).
The IJC is contested over four legs and points are awarded on a 12-6-4 basis. Wednesday's program kicks off at 6:30 p.m. HKT (10:30 a.m. BST, 5:30 a.m. US Eastern Time), with the first of the IJC legs set to jump at 8:10 p.m. Click here for the HKJC form guide.
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