Crowned Japan Racing Association’s champion jockey of 2022, Yuga Kawada has received the opportunity to join the International Jockeys’ Championship for third a straight year at Happy Valley on December 6. Kawada was supposed to compete in the event last year but was ruled out after testing positive to COVID-19 before leaving Japan.
Second in the 2023 standings with 140 wins, bested only by Christophe Lemaire who had already won 156 races as of November 27, Kawada exceeds Lemaire with win ratio at the moment.
Born in Tosu City, Saga Prefecture located in Kyushu district in October, 1985, Kawada is a fourth-generation jockey. He grew up near the NAR-Saga racecourse because his father used to ride and is a current trainer at Saga. His grandfather and great-grandfather also trained racehorses.
Kawada has captured more than 100 wins in eight of the past 12 seasons and his highest number of wins in a season is 167, which he achieved in 2020 including the two Group 1 wins with Grenadier Guards in the Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) and Danon the Kid in the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes (2000m). His major Japan Racing Association victories in the past years include the Japanese Classic races – the Group 1 Satsuki Sho (2000m) on Captain Thule, the Japanese Derby on Makahiki, the Group 1 Kikuka Sho (3000m) on Big Week, Group 1 Oka Sho (1600m) on Harp Star and Stars on Earth, and Group 1 Yushun Himba (2400m) on Gentildonna.
In 2023, Kawada has notched 13 Group race successes, with the highlight being a sweep of the Japanese Triple Tiara on the current heroine Liberty Island.
“I am very grateful for her achieving the feat,” said Kawada in the post-race interview of the Shuka Sho, as he celebrated his 38th birthday. “She was here to enjoy all the fans, so I have done the same thing I always do to her coming into the race. She is a horse with great ability, so I placed top priority on letting her run comfortably and finding a good path for her. She has a great ability.”
Since 2021, Kawada’s influence has expanded onto the world stage with wins in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Loves Only You in 2021, while he also landed the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) on Ushba Tesoro at Meydan in March.
JRA has a racing series for youngsters aged 10 between and 13 called “Jockey Babies”. It has trials in eight locations through local pony clubs, and eight qualifiers are hosted at Tokyo Racecourse for the final, where the youngsters compete on ponies provided by JRA in front of many spectators after the regular races have finished. “Jockey Babies” started in 2009 and this has been successful for creating the venue for the professional jockeys and riders. This year, 11-year-old Ginji Kawada, Yuga Kawada’s son won the annual Jockey Babies.
Ginji said: “I was not nervous at all. I did not receive any advice from my dad. I want to become the world’s top jockey someday.” Kawada watched the race after his riding tasks on the race day at Tokyo and he was very pleased to see his son’s triumph.
“I feel very relieved that all of the young children have passed the finish line safely, and thank you very much for you all to cheer on my son. I am grateful that my son has won the race. He has better balance than I do. He wishes to become the top jockey in the world, and I do hope his dream come true,” said Kawada after the pony race.
Kawada will head to the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship next month.
“I would like to thank The Hong Kong Jockey Club for inviting me again this year. It is a great opportunity to meet my friends from all over the world and I am very looking forward to riding with the best of the best jockeys in the world.”
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The current leading Japanese jockey in the 2022 Japan Racing Association rankings, Yuga Kawada, will contest the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley for the third time on December 7. Featuring a stellar line-up for 12 of the world’s best jockeys, Kawada has been selected for two consecutive years.
“I am honoured to be representing Japan again this year,” said Kawada.
Kawada is a five-time JRA award winner for the jockey with the highest winning percentage, achieving the feats in 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, Kawada has marked two JRA Group 1 wins with Danon Scorpion (three-year-old colt, by Lord Kanaloa) in the NHK Mile Cup and Stars On Earth (three-year-old filly, by Duramente) in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and another five triumphs at Group 2 and Group 3 level (as of November 21).
Hailing from a horse family background – his great-grandfather was a jockey and a trainer, his grandfather was a trainer, and his father was a jockey and a trainer – Kawada started to ride when he was a third grader in the elementary school and grabbed some titles in the show jumping competitions in his junior high school ages. He also spent his school’s summer holidays at “Shigaraki Bokujo” to ride and take care of horses, where trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida’s father manages.
After spending the three-year course for jockeys in JRA Horseracing School, he gained his JRA jockey license in 2004 and debuted in March of the year. His first win on the JRA circuits was at Hanshin racecourse on 20 March and took his first ride in group race at Chukyo two months later. He won 16 races in 255 starts in the rookie year.
In 2006, when he was granted the JRA’s freelance jockey, he took his first group race success and then got a chance to contest in the Japanese Derby with Super Hornet (by Rodrigo de Triano).
His success stories in the highest classes opened in the 2008 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) with Captain Thule (by Agnes Tachyon), followed by the 2010 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with Big Week (by Bago). In 2013, he ranked second with 120 wins but did capture his first JRA award.
By winning the 2012 Japanese Oaks with Gentildonna (by Deep Impact), the 2014 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) with Harp Star (by Deep Impact) and the 2016 Japanese Derby with Makahiki (by Deep Impact), he became one of the eleven riders in JRA history to have won all five Japanese Classic races. He also associated with Maurice (by Screen Hero) and Lovely Day (by King Kamehameha) in G1 races and has won 1,817 at JRA (as of November 21).
Besides his achievements in Japan, his global successes were also on show in 2021. He rode the first Japanese Breeders’ Cup winner, Loves Only You (by Deep Impact) in the Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar and then guided her to crown the Hong Kong Cup for her farewell contest.
In 2022, he has won 138 races on both JRA and NAR circuits (as of November 21).
“I will give my best effort to bring the best performances at Happy Valley on the night.” said Kawada.
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Preparing to reunite with champion galloper Golden Sixty at Sha Tin on Sunday (November 20), Vincent Ho has almost certainly secured a coveted berth in the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) next month with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (November 16).
With three places still to be assigned in the star-studded 12-rider roster for the December 7 IJC – including one for Hong Kong’s leading home-grown jockey – Ho (18 wins) holds a commanding six-win lead over his closest fellow Hong Kong rider Matthew Chadwick (12) with only two meetings left before the final selection is made.
Ho’s brace on Happily Friends and Jazz Steed also consolidated his hold on second place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship behind runaway leader Zac Purton (40), who missed Wednesday night’s fixture with COVID, leaving Silvestre de Sousa (16), Chadwick (12), Alexis Badel (11), Lyle Hewitson (10) and Luke Ferraris (10) in contention for the two IJC remaining spots.
Purton will next month attempt to defend his IJC crown against a glittering line-up of internationally acclaimed jockeys including Ryan Moore, Hollie Doyle, Jamie Kah, James McDonald, Yuga Kawada, Mickael Barzalona, Jye McNeil and Tom Marquand.
Ho, winner of three Tony Cruz Awards as Hong Kong’s top home-grown jockey, is excited at the prospect of joining the IJC series.
“I’m happy to have the chance to be involved,” Ho said. “It’s a privilege to ride against all the top jockeys in the world and I’m excited to have a chance to be in it.”
Chadwick, who also had a double with Excellent Peers and Gold Marquis, is well placed to join his compatriot in the series after moving into fourth place in the Hong Kong championship with 12 wins as Tony Cruz, Frankie Lor and Caspar Fownes shared Happy Valley training honours with doubles.
Chadwick emulated Ho’s quickfire double aboard Gold Marquis in the Class 3 Japan Racing Association Trophy Handicap (1200m) for Fownes before driving Excellent Peers to victory in the Class 3 Kyoto Handicap (1200m) for Lor.
Peter Ho combined with Matthew Poon to clinch the Class 2 Tokyo Handicap (1650m) with Packing Award, who posted his sixth victory in 14 starts with a head margin over Mr Ascendency. Savaquin was a neck away in third.
Ho will target the HKD$3.9 million Group 3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on January 11 with the Shamus Award gelding.
“My main target is the January Cup. He’s a very honest horse and it’s very hard to find a horse like this. He’s more relaxed now and always tries his best,” Ho said.
Cruz and Luke Ferraris closed the meeting in style with the triumph of Winning Dragon, a dual Group 1 winner in Chile, in the Class 3 Hanshin Handicap (1650m). Runner-up Pegasus General was also a Group 1 victor in his native Brazil.
Vincent Ho started the meeting in a blaze with a race-to-race double, initially delivering Happily Friends (133lb), a Hong Kong International Sale graduate, with perfect timing to snare the first section of the Class 5 Fukushima Handicap (1200m) for Chris So.
Ho’s strength was pivotal in the second section of the Class 5 Fukushima Handicap (1200m) when Jazz Steed (135lb) downed Universal Crown for Fownes before Derek Leung joined the fray with victory on Ricky Yiu-trained Leslie (131lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Nakayama Handicap (1200m).
Angus Chung posted his first Happy Valley winner when the 10-pound claiming apprentice piloted Circuit Elite to an all-the-way success in the Class 4 Chukyo Handicap (1800m) for Cruz. Chung, 26, has ridden eight winners at Sha Tin this season since returning from his stint in Australia.
Reigning Hong Kong Champion Trainer Lor extended his excellent start to the season when Savvy Chic swept to victory in the second section of the Class 4 Nakayama Handicap (1200m) for Silvestre de Sousa. Lor has 17 wins for the campaign so far.
“I told the jockey to follow other horses if he needed to, but this horse (Savvy Chic) has a lot of speed and he was able to lead,” Lor said. “His next start will depend on how many he points he gets in the handicap. If he stays in Class 4, I will look for another 1200m race at Happy Valley.”
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (November 20) with the running of the Group 2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), Group 2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).
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Loves Only You set the perfect seal on one of international racing’s most colourful careers with a spellbinding success in the HKD$30 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday (12 December).
Yoshito Yahagi’s globetrotting mare has flown the Hinomaru flag from Dubai to Hong Kong and on to the USA then back to Sha Tin again in 2021, leading home a Japanese 1-2-3-4 in the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) in April then creating history by becoming the first horse from her nation to score at the Breeders’ Cup.
Hong Kong’s richest race had been nominated as the final race of the Deep Impact mare’s career soon after she crossed the line in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m) at Del Mar on 6 November.
Her fifth long flight of the year took her annual distance covered to over 20,000 miles but Loves Only You was produced in perfect condition and completed the final leg of her global odyssey with a last-gasp success under the coolest of rides from Yuga Kawada.
The 36-year-old rider, who was extremely fortunate not to be brought down when previous winner Danon Smash was badly hampered in a dramatic Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) earlier in the day, was understandably thrilled to record his first HKIR success. “Thank you very much, I’m very proud,” he said.
“She jumped well. The pace was a bit slow but then she relaxed and I was able to find a good position. She’s given me two big presents and is the best female horse I’ve ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”
Sent off the +160 market leader, Loves Only You jumped alertly from stall four and was soon travelling keenly just behind a steady early pace set by Mac Swiney, Ka Ying Star and the wide-running Bolshoi Ballet.
Russian Emperor made a bold move to hit the front as a packing field jostled for position early in the home straight but last season’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up edged right with his tongue lolling out as he did so, placing Loves Only You in a pocket on the inner at a crucial point.
Hishi Iguazu produced a storming run from the rear on the outside soon after under Joao Moreira to draw level briefly well inside the final furlong.
However, Kawada had Loves Only You in fully cry by this stage and the five-year-old repeated her Del Mar heroics, quickening valiantly between horses under pressure to lead close home and beat her fellow Japanese raider by a short head.
Russian Emperor ran the race of his life for Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn to finish a length away in third, while British raider Dubai Honour never looked like becoming the first European runner to win the Cup since Snow Fairy in 2010 but stayed on powerfully for fourth once in the clear for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.
Three years on from seeing his star filly Lys Gracieux beaten narrowly by Exultant in the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi was completing an incredible end to 2021 which has also produced a +4900 Breeders’ Cup Distaff success for Marche Lorraine and a commanding Japan Cup success for his superstar colt Contrail.
The colourful 60-year-old was unable to accompany Loves Only You on the final leg of her journey but his stable representative Yusaku Oka was on hand to savour a perfect finale.
“I’m so glad to win this race for our trainer, who is watching on in Japan,” he said.
“She won the Breeders’ Cup very well and in the spring she came over here and had a good result, so we were always confident she would run well.
“She’s got a good pedigree – so we are looking forward to the next stage of her career – and as we have quite a lot of good horses in the stable we hope we will be back in Hong Kong with them in the future.”
Dusk was gathering over Sha Tin as an elated Kawada left the racecourse on a day that illustrated every aspect of the joy and pain that defines racing at the highest level.
The sun is also setting on Loves Only You’s racing career but, if the 2021 edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races confirmed one thing, it is that the Land of the Rising Sun is now a true powerhouse on the global racing stage.
Following in the footsteps of A Shin Hikari, Maurice, Win Bright and Normcore, this success for Loves Only You means Japan has now won five of the last seven Hong Kong Cups and four of the eight HKIR races run in the last two years.
HKJC racecaller Mark McNamara summed up the latest thrilling finish to Hong Kong’s most cherished prize by saying: “It’s Japan 1-2, Loves Only You says sayonara with the Cup!”
Leave them wanting more is never a bad motto. But, who knows, maybe Japan’s latest Cup queen will have a son or daughter to represent her on the LONGINES HKIR stage in years to come.
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As the end of Loves Only You’s storied racing career approaches and the next chapter of her life beckons, trainer Yoshito Yahagi has his eyes firmly fixed on Sunday’s (12 December) HKD$30 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin, hopeful of a fairy tale end for his globetrotting mare.
“I’m just concentrating on her race in Hong Kong, so I don’t feel sad at the moment but probably after the race I will be sad,” Yahagi said.
Retiring with seven wins from 15 starts (before Sunday’s race), Loves Only You has savoured top-level victories in Japan, the United States and Hong Kong. She also boasts a close-up third in Dubai and following her final foray, she will be sent to Northern Farm, south of Sapporo in Japan, for broodmare duties.
With a Breeders’ Cup success under her belt last month, Loves Only You can join an at elite club at Sha Tin with victory by becoming the fifth horse to complete the QEII Cup and Hong Kong Cup double in the same year after Jim And Tonic (1999), Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Designs On Rome (2014) and Win Bright (2019).
“I’m so glad we made history because a Japanese horse had never won the race (Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, 2200m), but we were always thinking those tough races in America that our Japanese horses still had a chance, so I’m glad we won at the Breeders’ Cup,” Yahagi said.
Undefeated over 2000m at Sha Tin, she nailed a sublime win over Glory Vase, Daring Tact and Kiseki in April to lead home a Japanese-trained first four in the FWD QEII Cup.
“After we won at the Breeders’ Cup, we decided that this was going to be the final run of her career,” Yahagi said.
Yuga Kawada – who guided her to Breeders’ Cup glory – will again be in the plate.
“I went to win and we prepared this horse so well at the races – I’m so glad to make history with a Japanese horse to win at the Breeders’ Cup,” Kawada said.
Earlier this week on Wednesday, 8 December at Sha Tin, Kawada took Loves Only You through a 1200m gallop on the dirt, clocking 1m 16.6s (30.0, 24.5, 22.1).
“I think barrier four is a good draw for her,” the rider said.
November proved a big month for Yahagi, who savoured his maiden Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) triumph with the (Japanese) Triple Crown-winning Contrail.
“This horse is a very special horse for me, he has a new life as a stallion now and we’re looking forward to seeing him do an excellent job in the future,” Yahagi said.
Yahagi has been training since 2004 and boasts Group 1 wins in Japan, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, United States and Australia.
Earlier on the card, Stay Foolish lines up in the HKD$20 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) for Yahagi and partners with Vincent Ho from gate four.
The six-year-old is two-time winner including once at Group 2 level. This will be his sixth attempt in Group 1 company with his previous best effort at the top-level returning third place in the Hopeful Stakes (2000m) of 2017.
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Hidetaka Otonashi hopes genetics plays a decisive role in the HKD$24 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 December) when the Japanese prodigy seeks to emulate the heroics of his sire, Maurice.
A mercurial talent, Maurice annexed the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in 2015 before adding the Group 1 Champions Mile and Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), demonstrating extraordinary talent while competing at home and abroad.
Otonashi believes Pixie Knight has the talent to overcome relative inexperience on his first sortie away from Japan to prevail against a group of tough, seasoned speedsters on foreign soil.
“I think if this horse has had no issues with travel – and Maurice had success in Hong Kong – this horse should be suited in Hong Kong,” Otonashi said of Pixie Knight, who downed two of his Japanese rivals, Resistencia (second) and Danon Smash (sixth), in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse on 3 October.
“This horse is just three-years-old, so he’s still growing and he still has some improvement and after the Sprinters Stakes, we still have two months until we came over here (to Hong Kong) and now he’s improving.
“Every day I watch his trackwork video and he was fit and well in Japan, so if he handles this travel, I think he should do well at the races.”
Bidding to join Lord Kanaloa (2012 and 2013) and Danon Smash (2020) – another potent father-son combination – as Japanese winners of the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, Pixie Knight will be partnered by regular rider Yuichi Fukunaga as he faces four fellow Group 1 winners – Hot King Prawn, Wellington, Danon Smash and Resistencia.
With three wins spread over 1200m-1600m from eight starts, Pixie Knight is far better suited to sprint trips than extended journeys, according to Fukunaga.
“I always knew that he was a sprinter but we have no choice but to race him in mile races (to compete in Japanese juvenile Group 1 contests),” Fukunaga said. “He has a lot of speed in the mile, so he always goes in front in the race but if he’s racing at 1200m, we can choose any position to put him in.
“I think he has a lot of potential, so I have confidence but I am just concerned that in the Sprinters Stakes, we had a light weight (121lb) but this time we are the same (126lb) as some of the other horses, so we are concerned but also still confident.”
Resistencia, who beat Pixie Knight in the Group 2 Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (1200m) at Chukyo on 12 September, meets the colt four pounds better off for defeat in the Sprinters Stakes.
Fukunaga has telling respect for Christophe Soumillon’s mount Resistencia, who will start from barrier seven, while Pixie Knight leaves from gate eight.
“Resistencia has drawn barrier seven and this horse has a lot of speed, so I think we just follow behind the speed but I have still to discuss it with the trainer,” Fukunaga said.
Danon Smash, who won the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint from barrier 14 last year, is the most successful Group 1 competitor engaged on Sunday, having also lifted the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) at Chukyo on 28 March.
He starts from gate 10 on Sunday under Yuga Kawada, while Ryan Moore teams with Hot King Prawn from barrier two.
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Accustomed to major race success, Yuga Kawada and Kiyoshi Hagiwara will lay siege to Golden Sixty’s Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) crown with Danon Kingly at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 December), carrying immense respect for the defending champion.
Hagiwara, who successfully campaigned Normcore in the 2020 Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), has great confidence in Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) winner Danon Kingly, but he also holds tremendous admiration for Golden Sixty.
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Golden Sixty’s races and he’s exceptionally strong,” Hagiwara said from Tokyo. “Regarding Danon Kingly, the horse is in good condition and you would like him to show his best on the day and, with that, hope he’ll be at the finish.”
Pointing to Danon Kingly’s superior record on good or firm ground – six wins and four placings from 13 starts – Hagiwara is encouraged by Hong Kong’s dry weather and the likelihood of a good track on Sunday.
“In regards to Danon Kingly and Hong Kong, I thought the horse would be suited to good ground and having the experience and seen the ground in Hong Kong (previously), I thought the horse was a good match for here,” Hagiwara said.
Hagiwara retains Kawada as the striking five-year-old’s rider despite engaging Zac Purton last season aboard Normcore.
“In regards to the jockey, Kawada has had great success riding Danon Kingly and obviously has a great relationship with the horse so, in order to get the horse’s best, we wanted to stick with Kawada who, up until now has had great results with the horse,” he said.
Kawada hopes to add more lustre to an already imposing 2021 haul capped by LONGINES Hong Kong Cup contender Loves Only You’s Breeders’ Cup triumph.
“I’ve had a well-enough year overall,” he said modestly. “I’ve had some obviously big-race results but, overall, I’m looking to improve and I would like to get a more winners in Japan but, on the big stage, I’m very happy with the year.”
Kawada believes Danon Kingly has the attributes to contend at the weekend.
“He’s had excellent form in Japan this year with the win and a second. I’ve been impressed not just with the results but the way the horse has handled himself,” Kawada said.
“I haven’t sat on the horse in Hong Kong yet. I will ride him on Friday just to get a feeling for the horse and where he’s at but so far everything is going to plan and I look forward to seeing the horse show his exceptional ability this weekend.
“I’ll focus on my own position in the race, but I’ll wait and see how the race unfolds and based on that, I would just like Danon Kingly to get into his own rhythm. If the horse can get in his own rhythm, that’s when he shows his best. He’s quite versatile if he can get a nice rhythm, so a specific position within the race isn’t a big concern or focus at the moment.”
Apart from Danon Kingly and Loves Only You, Kawada will take the reins on defending LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) champion Danon Smash.
“He obviously had a fantastic result winning this race here last year. He’s had some very good runs in Japan this year. Last start, he wasn’t quite able to show his best but I’m very confident going into this Sunday and very much looking forward to riding the horse and hoping he can show his best,” Kawada said.
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The world’s two top jockeys, the evergreen and effervescent Frankie Dettori and Hong Kong’s own Zac Purton, head a stellar cast competing in the 22nd edition of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley tonight (Wednesday 4 December).
Dettori and Purton sit one-two on the current LONGINES World’s Best Jockey rankings and they’re joined in pursuit of the HK$500,000 IJC prize by another 10 of racing’s most outstanding jockeys, including Oisin Murphy and Ryan Moore who finished second and third respectively, behind Dettori, in the 2018 official IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities) rankings.
The crowd-pulling Joao Moreira plus Karis Teetan and Vincent Ho also represent Hong Kong; defending IJC champion Silvestre de Sousa competes for Britain alongside Moore and this year’s champion British jockey Murphy; while national champions James McDonald, Colin Keane and Pierre-Charles Boudot add to the extraordinary list of talent along with IJC debutant Yuga Kawada who was this year’s World All-Star Jockeys champion in Japan.
The 49 year-old Dettori, who has enjoyed a career-best year with 19 Group 1 wins at an astonishing strike rate of 35.8%, summed up the view of all competitors when he said: “Just look at this line-up of amazing jockeys, it is a privilege to be asked to compete again.”
Dettori, three times IJC champion, is eagerly awaiting his first rides in Hong Kong since 2011 when he last claimed the title.
“It’s really exciting to be back. It’s a great atmosphere at Happy Valley and this series is always challenging taking on the best around this unique track,” he said.
Many of his rivals are experienced at Hong Kong’s city circuit and boast past IJC wins, with two championships to Moore and one to Purton, Moreira and de Sousa.
In contrast, Kawada rides at Happy Valley for the first time.
“I’m honoured to join the IJC with all the world’s top jockeys. The line-up is so amazing. This is my first time to ride at this sharp and tricky course but I will do my best,” said Kawada, who is one of only nine jockeys in Japan to have won all five classic races.
Teetan appears to have a good book of rides, most of which are well drawn.
“I can say it’s nice to go into the competition with some chance,” he said. “I think I learned a lot from my two previous IJC appearances and it’s great to ride here in Hong Kong and get the opportunity to go again in the IJC.”
Teetan, who is currently third in the Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership, named G Unit (race four) and High Rev (race eight) as “the two who stand out” among his book.
Irish-born Murphy said he was looking forward to the competition. “I’ll be studying the races tonight and watching the videos. I’m glad to be back here. I first came in 2016 and I’ve been back each year since. I’ve learned a lot here watching guys like Zac (Purton) and Joao (Moreira),” he said.
De Sousa, who won last year with a record tally of points, said he was “feeling a lot of pressure” this year. “There’s a lot of superstars here. I’m just proud and happy to be a part of it and I just hope I get lucky,” he said.
The four-race IJC is part of a nine-race card at the Valley, which starts at 6.30pm. The first IJC race is the fourth on the programme, the Class 4 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship Handicap – 1st Leg (1000m) at 8.10pm.
The fourth and deciding contest is race eight, the Class 2 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship Handicap – 4th Leg (1800m) at 10.10pm.
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Hong Kong representative Karis Teetan was unable to notch a win on the second and final day of the JRA World All-Star Jockeys series at Sapporo Racecourse, Japan yesterday (Sunday, 25 August), but a creditable second in the third leg helped him finish joint third behind eventual winner Yuga Kawada.
Teetan had scored 31 points in Saturday’s two heats to sit joint-second at the half-way point. In the third leg over 1700m on dirt today, the Mauritian rider settled his mount Realist ahead of mid-field after a good jump from gate five. Turning to the homestraight Teetan moved to outside and his mount accelerated well. Race winner Suave Aramis, ridden by French star Mickaelle Michel, never looked under threat but Realist finished clear of other rivals to run second, beaten by two lengths.
That second left Teetan in second place ahead of the final leg, a turf race over 1800m. However, Teetan’s ride Jo Book Kommen could only finish ninth. In total, he amassed 53 points in the series to finish level with Michel. The victorious Kawada scored 70 points to take the overall title, thanks to his win atop Precious Blue in the final leg. Christophe Lemaire was runner-up with 58 points.
In the team contest, Team JRA took the plaudits with an overall tally of 246 points to Team World All-Stars 202 points.
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Vincent Ho marked his first day in the saddle at one of the world’s most famous racecourses with a win as his Rest of the World team captured the Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday (10 August).
The 29-year-old Hong Kong star went close in the Shergar Cup Challenge (2300m) when the front-running Genetics was caught in the final strides by fellow Rest of the World rider Mark Zahra aboard Indianapolis.
However, Ho went one better in the following Shergar Cup Mile (1600m) when Power of Darkness, trained by Derby-winning handler Marcus Tregoning, came home powerfully from well off the pace to score with authority.
Ho was thrilled to join Zahra and Japanese rider Yuga Kawada as part of the winning team. The trio accrued 86 points with Team Europe and The Girls joint-second with 63 points and Great Britain & Ireland fourth of four with 28 points.
“This has been a great experience and I have to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club and everyone at Ascot for giving me this opportunity,” the former Hong Kong champion apprentice said.
“The Shergar Cup makes headlines all around the world and I would have to say this goes down as one of the most enjoyable days of my career so far.”
A double ensured Hayley Turner took the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle award for the second year in a row. The girls team captain amassed 40 points to emerge as the contest’s leading individual rider. Ho was joint-third in the standings with 32 points.
Ho is currently just over halfway through a second summer spell with leading British trainer Mark Johnston and is hoping to add to his tally of four winners before returning to Hong Kong in two weeks. He ended the 2018/19 season by winning the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading homegrown rider with a personal best 56 wins.
“Mr. Johnston has supported me so well but it’s great to get chances in good races for new trainers and winning a race like this at a great racecourse like Ascot is a dream come true for me,” Ho said.
“The feeling I got from the fans here today was just very special and riding with and against so many great riders from all over the world is something I’ll remember for a long time.
“Of course, it would be great to come back for Royal Ascot, that is something I would love to do. To do that on a Hong Kong horse would be awesome. And to win and meet the Queen would be even better!”
Gerald Mosse, a riding legend in Hong Kong thanks to his past successes in the city, was out of luck on the day as part of Team Europe but was delighted to see Ho make an important breakthrough.
“I’ve watched Vincent’s progress for quite a while now and I’m very proud of what he is achieving,” the Frenchman said.
“He still has things to learn but he is going about his job in exactly the right way and working with Mark Johnston will be a big help. He has achieved a lot in Hong Kong already, but this is something different. He’s still young and he is going to be a very good rider, for sure.”
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