Martin Harley enjoying year of enterprise in Hong Kong and Australia

The opportunity to ride in front of 90,000 racing fans at Sha Tin is a rare one for Britain-based jockeys. Celebrating Listed success at Flemington is too but Martin Harley can say he has done both during a year of broadening his horizons in the saddle.

Last Christmas, the multiple Group 1-winning jockey accepted a three-month licence to ride in Hong Kong, which was subsequently extended to six months and ensured an experience of a lifetime between February and July.

In a region that is traditionally difficult to make a breakthrough, Harley rode four winners and nine seconds among other placings, and an emphasis on the clock at trackwork combined with rather different demands for a jockey made for a rewarding stint.

Martin Harley celebrates his first winner in Hong Kong after High Five scores at Happy Valley in MarchCredit: Hkjc

Harley said: "I applied for a three-month licence in Hong Kong twice before and was rejected, so when the opportunity came to head there in February it was one I could not turn down.

"I really like it there and it was very different to what I was used to as you book your own rides and do your own PA work.

"A lot of the trackwork was time-based and it was a great experience and something I’m sure will stand me in good stead."

Harley was also struck by the notable emphasis on speed compared to Britain.

He said: “Everything happens at a faster tempo so you have to make decisions a lot quicker, whereas in Britain things tend to happen in a rhythm. It’s over very quick when you’re going around tracks like Happy Valley.

“The lifestyle is good and I did a lot of hikes as the weather was nice and it’s a beautiful place. It was very humid – that was the only thing I didn’t like, but you can’t have the best of everything!”

The 2011 champion apprentice rode out for John Gosden in Newmarket on his return and made the trip to Australia at the end of August.

Harley did not have to wait long for a big-race success as he celebrated a first victory at Flemington aboard Warning in the Listed Super Impose Stakes this month.

All smiles: Martin Harley enjoys a Listed winner on Warning at FlemingtonCredit: Racing Photos

He said: “It was very good to have a winner in the city and it’s a beautiful track at Flemington.

“In Britain I always managed to get close to 100 winners each year so it’s been a bleak season from a numbers point of view [seven winners – all on the all-weather], but it’s been a massive experience and that Listed success at Flemington felt like a Group 1 winner."

Seven winners and 12 placings from 49 rides in Australia reads well, with Harley making plenty of connections and regularly riding trackwork.

Harley said: “It’s been going well and I’m enjoying it. I’ve ridden winners for Chris Waller, Anthony Freedman and James Cummings, so I’m riding for the right people at a very competitive time of the year.

“The plan is to keep working hard until Christmas and then decide whether to continue in Australia for another period or head back to Britain and get stuck into the new year on the all-weather.

“It’s crazy to say at 30 that this year is a big learning curve as you think you’ve done your apprenticeship, but you never stop learning in this game.”

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