Happy Valley | Horsephotos
Via Alan Carasso
Eight elite overseas riders will join four riders from Hong Kong to compete for the HK$500,000 top prize in the Longines International Equestrian Championship to be held at Happy Racecourse. The iconic Valley on Hong Kong Island on Wednesday, December 8.
Ryan Moore was due to make his 15th appearance at the IJC, having died of spoils with John Murtagh and Christophe Lemaire in 2009 before winning the title 12 months later. Moore, who has been on the podium four times since his most recent win, currently topping Longines’ World Drivers Ranking, has teamed up this season with the likes of G1 Prince of Wales Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire} ); St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), four-time Group 1 winner this term; Oaks Snowfall (Jpn) treble winner (Deep Impact {Jpn}); and G1 Cheveley Park S. hero Tenebrism (Caravaggio), just to name a few.
New Zealand-born but Sydney-based James McDonald joined the IJC in flying form, as he rode a record 10 winners during the Melbourne Cup Festival, including the main event on board the Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) {NZ}) , one of the four top level points. McDonald’s is the clear leader for jockey’s top spot in both Sydney and New South Wales.
Yuga Kawada is Japan’s second-ranked jockey in terms of winners (just behind Lemaire) and is winning with 28.3% of her rides, a remarkable strike rate on the road. JRA racing is very competitive. He helped make history for the island nation at the Breeders’ Cup meeting, guiding Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to a landmark success in GI Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar . He also started house 46 -1 gamble Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this year’s G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo.
Hollie Doyle and partner Tom Marquand are returning to Happy Valley this year. Doyle made a bit of history of her own at IJC 2020, becoming the first female driver to win either stage to finish third with Alexis Badel. The pair finished fifth and third respectively in this year’s British Flat Cycling Championships.
Lyle Hewitson of South Africa makes his IJC debut this year, having just won his third South African Jockey Championship title in the 2020/2021 season.
Other foreign guests include: Damian Lane (debuter) of IJC (Australia) and Mickael Barzalona (France).
Defending champion Zac Purton and his arch-rival Joao Moreira – IJC 2012 winner representing Singapore – fly the Bauhinia flag and will be joined by the highest ranked driver in Hong Kong. Kong as well as the top homegrown racer.
The four races include the HK$6.2 million IJC and each stage – two Place 3 handicaps and two Fourth Place prizes – will receive a 20% increase in prize money for the event. Trainers will also be encouraged to import their horses, as a total of HK$350,000 will be divided among the three trainers whose horses have accumulated the most points.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been approved by the HKSAR government to host the IJC and the Hong Kong Longines International Races over the weekend with strict COVID-related protocols in place.
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