A summer excursion to Sydney and Hunter Valley Studs for Hong Kong's apprentice jockeys came to a successful conclusion as tour members returned to Hong Kong last Wednesday night. They have now resumed trackwork duty at Sha Tin in preparation for the new season, which will commence on 9 September. All of them considered the trip had provided them an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and widen their vision within horse racing.
The group comprised apprentices Terry Wong, Marco Chui, Alex Lai, Thomas Yeung and Paul Lo, led by John Graham, Manager, Racing Development Board of The Hong Kong Jockey Club. They departed on 22 July for the 11-day trip.
During the trip, the jockeys attended lectures given by Ray Murrihy, Chief Steward of New South Wales Thoroughbred Racing; Maurice Logue, the institution's Training Manager of Racing; and Ron Quinton, a former champion jockey and trainer who is now an official of NSW Thoroughbred Racing. The lectures mainly focused on riding tactics, diet, how to deal with owners and trainers, stewards enquiries and integrity issues.
The apprentices were shown the complete operations of NSW Thoroughbred Racing to give them an insight into how it manages race meetings across the state. They also shared experiences with Australian apprentices.
The tour members watched races at Warwick Farm and visited the Steward’s Room, viewing video footage of a racing incident leading up to a suspension. They also met Darren Beadman who stressed the importance of seeking out a mentor or being able to access advice from senior riders who could help them with their riding.
When the apprentices visited Crown Lodge, trainer John Hawkes explained how there were many different training methods in Australia because they had access to a variety of training facilities.
At Muskoka the apprentices had an opportunity to see a number of horses being prepared for Hong Kong trainer John Moore.
The group travelled to Arrowfield to see how that stud operated. They were able to look at a number of stallions including Danzero, Flying Spur, Starcraft and Redoute’s Choice.
At the 8,000-acre Woodlands, the apprentices saw former Australian champion horses Lonhro and Octagonal along with a number of other stallions.
At Coolmore, the final leg of the trip, they were able to see the first foals on the ground, one being by Encosta De Lago. They were given a detailed inspection of all facilities. Adrian O’Brien, Manager of the Stud, explained to them how the shuttle stallions operated.
"Our apprentices had a wonderful opportunity to experience the many faces of racing in Australia," said John Graham. "They were afforded every courtesy when visiting studs and the other training facilities. At all times the apprentices were great ambassadors for the Club. This trip will have opened their eyes to the opportunities within the world of racing."
[ Press Release from the HKJC ]
