Local hero Vincent Ho has a Golden ticket to take on the best in the world

Vincent Ho is ready to take on the mantle of hometown hero as he faces the challenge of riding two red-hot fancies in Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has managed to maintain quality and a high level of global interest in a raceday now entrenched as the last big international fixture of the year.

Classique Legend in the Sprint and Golden Sixty in the Mile will carry more tickets – as locals like to put it – than most in their respective races and Ho, who once dreamed of competing in the showjumping arena at the Olympics, is up for the challenge against a collection of the world’s best riders.

Sha Tin on Sunday card

“I’m excited but not nervous,” he assures. “I’ve worked hard for this day, and I’m so thankful to the owners and trainers for trusting me to ride their horses in these big races.

“We have the best jockeys in the world coming to Hong Kong for this meeting and they could have asked any of them to take over. But they have stuck with me, and I’m really grateful. I’m looking forward to it.”

Ho Chak-yiu, 30, grew up in Clearwater Bay, East Kowloon, an unlikely starting point for a jockey competing against the likes of Ryan Moore and William Buick, who come from families steeped in racing.

“My dad used to watch racing on TV, but mum would take me out shopping, saying it was boring waiting half an hour to watch a race that might take only a minute to run,” he relates.

Golden Sixty wins his ninth consecutive race, the Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap in OctoberCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Entering his teens, Ho thought briefly about a career as an F1 driver before settling for equestrian sports. At 13, he sat on a horse for the first time at Pokfulam public riding school – he loved showjumping – and three years later, after answering a newspaper advert, he won a place at the Jockey Club’s apprentice school.

There followed a professional grounding that enabled him to develop an affinity with horses and a burgeoning riding talent. He spent time at a stable on an Australian bush track before a year with Lance O’Sullivan in New Zealand.

“I rode 44 winners there and got plenty of suspensions . . . and they were cold winters. Aged 18, it made me tougher mentally and physically.”

Ho had long admired the European jockeys who regularly came to Hong Kong. He befriended Gerald Mosse, who gave him introductions in France, but it was Ryan Moore’s suggestion that he contact Mark Johnston at Middleham which was a turning point.

“Ryan is a great jockey and horseman, and he’s willing to help young jockeys. I asked him how I could improve my riding. He said Mr Johnston has runners everywhere, and that I would be able to get more rides from him in the UK than by going to Newmarket.”

There then followed two summer stints in Middleham in 2018 and 2019 and an impressive strike-rate of seven winners from just 27 rides.

“It was good advice. The more you ride, the better you get. I’m very grateful to Ryan and also Mr Johnston for that opportunity. I hope to go back there next summer if it is possible.”

Ho has a full book of rides in the International Races after Christophe Soumillon’s enforced absence. He has picked up solid local stayer Ho Ho Khan in the Vase, while he also rides Dances With Dragon for his old boss Caspar Fownes in the Cup.

As for his big guns, he is displaying plenty of confidence. He says being aboard Golden Sixty is like riding a Ducati. “He is quite special. His turn of foot is amazing. When he won the Derby in March it was crazy. He ran his last two furlongs like a sprinter.”

Golden Sixty will be attempting his 11th win in succession and, even against Breeders’ Cup surprise packet Order Of Australia and former champion Beauty Generation, the jockey is not fazed.

“I think Golden Sixty is still improving. He’s grown a bit this year and he’s come back stronger after his break. I think he’s still learning.”

Ho rides Classique Legend in the Sprint for the first time in a race. He was impressed when partnering the winner of Randwick’s feature The Everest in a barrier trial at Sha Tin recently and he has been in touch with Kerrin McEvoy, the gelding’s regular jockey in Australia.

“He was a bit lost in the trial because it was his first time on a straight course. He will have come on for that experience,” he adds.

Ho is the most talented local jockey to come through the ranks since Tony Cruz 40 years ago. This quiet, modest, yet ambitious young rider is now set to seize this opportunity to let the world know it.

Read more articles about the Hong Kong International Races here:

How Hong Kong puts on the world's richest races and funds fight against Covid

Soumillon to miss Hong Kong rides after failing to satisfy Covid-19 protocols

Zac Purton fined HK$40,000 for misconduct after Covid-related tweet

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