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Tom Marquand Excited About International Jockeys’ Championship, Additional Rides In Hong Kong

Rising British star Tom Marquand will use vital experience gleaned on tight-turning tracks in England and Australia to offset a lack of familiarity with Happy Valley's famed contours when he tackles the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Seeking to bookend a phenomenal season, the 22-year-old will partner Very Sweet Orange, Nunchuks, Surrealism and Wind N Grass in the HK$800,000 (about US$103,000) four-race contest and hopes he can share the limelight – and spoils – with partner and fellow jockey Hollie Doyle.

“Fingers crossed we can walk away with a winner or two apiece,” said Marquand, winner of G1 contests in England and Australia this year.

“Some of the tracks in Australia aren't too dissimilar (to Happy Valley) with the tightness and the ground being generally being a little bit quicker than in England.

“But we've got tight tracks in England like Chester. It's on another level to over here perhaps.

“Happy Valley is certainly a different track. It's a test of a jockey and a horse being such a sharp, almost speed-orientated track. So, while it will be a little bit different, very looking forward to tackling it with a great book of rides for both of us.”

Marquand revealed exposure to Hong Kong races via international broadcasts beamed into England provided the framework of his Happy Valley expectations.

“It's (Hong Kong racing) always on our TV and we're lucky to have that understanding of the way the races work, even from England,” Marquand, fresh from a double at Wolverhampton on Saturday, Dec. 5, said.

“(Wolverhampton is) not quite so glamorous as some of the days we've been lucky to have this year but, in all seriousness, it's massive coming into a day's racing like this having your confidence up.

“It's been a busy old year and it's easy to forget the good days I've had at smaller meetings, not just the days at Doncaster and Ascot, for example.”

A former champion apprentice, Marquand has already bettered his previous season-best haul of 136 winners with 141 to date – and he is not finished yet.

Apart from his four LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship mounts, he will also partner Red Majesty in the Class 4 France Handicap (1650m) and PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin) Donc Je Suis in the Class 4 Mauritius Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley.

The Englishman will take three rides at Sha Tin on Sunday (Dec. 13).

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club has gone to great lengths to get us over so it seemed a shame to go home and not have an opportunity to ride at out Sha Tin as well,” he said.

“By the look of it, I've got three rides – none in the international races, all in the local races as such – but really looking to getting out there on Sunday as well.”

Doyle best's chance in the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship is the David Hayes-trained Harmony N Blessed in the fourth leg of the series, a Class 3 contest over 1200m.

Hayes is confident the last-start debut winner can again contend.

“He's very professional and he did everything right at Sha Tin,” he said.

“He looks like he likes the Valley. I know he hasn't raced there but his trials have been excellent.

“You never know until they race, but he's a pretty straight-forward horse. He should be OK.

“He's probably eating better now than he was before the first run, so that's a good sign.

“It's a nice competitive race. Good step up, light weight so hopefully he can handle it.”

The dual champion trainer has full confidence in Doyle's ability.

“Her record overseas is too good to be concerned about having her on the horse. I think she'll do a good job,” he said.

Doyle's other jockey championship mounts are Happily Friends, Universal Go Go and Sunny Lad.

Wednesday's LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship meeting at Happy Valley starts at 6.30pm with the running of the Class 5 Australia Handicap (1650m).

The post Tom Marquand Excited About International Jockeys’ Championship, Additional Rides In Hong Kong appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Previous Winner Joao Moreira Predicts ‘Very Even’ Matchup In International Jockeys’ Championship

Joao Moreira predicts a galaxy of international star jockeys will swiftly adapt to Happy Valley's unique contours as 12 of the world's best riders vie for LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship glory on Wednesday, Dec. 9 in Hong Kong.

As one of four previous winners of the four-race format in this year's contest, the 2020/21 championship-leading jockey believes Wednesday's competition looms as one of the most even in the event's history – a sentiment echoed by the Brazilian's great championship rival Zac Purton.

“There's no doubt it's going to be a very interesting jockeys' challenge,” Moreira said.

“It looks like the club has done a good job to share the rides to everyone else in a fair way.

“I'm actually happy with the rides I've got. There's no doubt we can have some fun.

“These races are going to be very even races. From the first to the fifth horse, there won't be much difference.

“Luck is going to play a lot of luck in this game.”

Allocated Gouten Of Garo, Royal Racer, Smiling City and Cue The Music, Moreira is impressed by the depth of talent among the visiting riders as Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore, Mickael Barzalona, Pierre-Charles Boudot and William Buick attempt to land the top prize – racing's richest for such a competition – of HK$500,000 (about US$65,000).

“I have no doubt local jockeys have the advantage of riding every day on the city track but don't forget these jockeys are coming over here, they are high quality jockeys and they are able to adapt very quickly, understand and pick up from everybody, even watching replays,” Moreira said.

“I would describe Happy Valley as one of the most difficult places to adapt and get used to but I also don't underestimate these guys that are coming because if they've been selected, there are no doubts they are good jockeys and they are going to get used to it quick and do the best they can on this track straight away.”

Moreira, winner of the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship in 2012, believes Royal Racer will acquit himself well in the Second Leg of the series, a Class 4 contest over 1650m.

“He actually won very impressively with me on last time. If he's able to able produce what he did last time, I think he's going to be a very hard horse to beat and I would have him as my best ride of the jockeys' challenge,” he said.

“Most of the races on the card, particularly of the jockeys' challenge, seem to be even and if you're lucky enough to get a good run through, you might win with a horse that might not be one of top favourites.

“It seems like Ryan Moore, as usual, gets good rides. Boudot, also, has decent rides.”

Purton, seeking his second victory in the series after the Australian's 2017 triumph, will partner Hey Pal, Fearless Fire, Gift Of Lifeline and Flying Bonus.

“It looks a lot more even this year,” he said.

“I don't have the strongest rides. I have rides that can run some sort of race.

“Hopefully I can have a bit of luck there somewhere and you never know what can happen.”

Doyle will attempt to crown a supreme 2020 with victory aboard last start Sha Tin winner Harmony N Blessed for David Hayes.

The LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship meeting starts at Happy Valley on Wednesday, Dec. 9, with the running of the Class 5 Australia Handicap (1650m) at 6.30pm.

Allocated jockey rides

Alexis Badel (Hong Kong) – Farm Bumper, Gallant Crown, Hang's Decision, Lucky Quality.

Mickael Barzalona (France) – Young Victory, Thunder Stomp, Savaquin, Mehboob.

Pierre-Charles Boudot (France) – Jazz Steed, Maldives, Reel Bizzy, Storm Warnings.

William Buick (Great Britain) – Happy Good Guys, Regency Master, Noble Steed, Beauty Spark.

Neil Callan (Hong Kong) – Winner's Heart, Lady First, Lightning Steed, Meridian Genius.

Hollie Doyle (Great Britain) – Happily Friends, Universal Go Go, Sunny Lad, Harmony N Blessed.

Vincent Ho (Hong Kong) – Travel Datuk, Anonyma, Hall of Champ, What A Legend.

Tom Marquand (Great Britain) – Very Sweet Orange, Nunchuks, Surrealism, Wind N Grass.

Ryan Moore (Great Britain) – Packing Champion, Play Wise, Jolly Honour, Grateful Heart.

Joao Moreira (Hong Kong) – Gouten Of Garo, Royal Racer, Smiling City, Cue The Music.

Zac Purton (Hong Kong) – Hey Pal, Fearless Fire, Gift Of Lifeline, Flying Bonus.

Karis Teetan (Hong Kong) – Oversubscribed, Right Honourable, Helene Wisdom Star, Winston's Lad.

The post Previous Winner Joao Moreira Predicts ‘Very Even’ Matchup In International Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Longines IJC Gets HKIR Week Rolling

The Longines International Jockeys’ Championship, set for Wednesday evening at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse, marks the true start of Hong Kong International Races week, as 12 of the world’s top jockey’s compete for the HK$500,000 winner’s share of the HK$800,000 on offer. Though the crowds won’t be there, owing to an uptick in the number of COVID cases over the last few weeks, six locally based riders will face a half-dozen of their peers that have jetted in from Europe, with a revised format in the distribution of mounts that should make for a more level playing field.

Three of the six jockeys that will fly the flag for Hong Kong are past winners of the IJC, including Joao Moreira, who was based in Singapore when he defeated now arch-rival Zac Purton to scoop the top prize in 2012. There is a home-field advantage, the ‘Magic Man’ believes, but he is taking nothing for granted.

“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a very interesting jockeys’ challenge,” Moreira said. “I have no doubt local jockeys have the advantage of riding every day on the city track, but don’t forget these jockeys are coming over here, they are high quality jockeys and they are able to adapt very quickly, understand and pick up from everybody, even watching replays. Luck is going to play a lot of luck in this game.”

Among Moreira’s best chances should come in the second leg of the competition aboard Royal Racer (Aus) (Dreamscape {Aus}), whose three career victories have come around the city circuit and who was ridden by Moreira to a course-and-distance success Nov. 25.

Karis Teetan won his first HKIR race in 2018 when steering Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) to victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and he defeated Ryan Moore to win last year’s IJC. The Mauritian is looking forward to defending his title and says his victory put added wind in his sails.

“I would say winning the challenge helped me even in Hong Kong, more owners have seen me on the big stage and trainers have noticed, even now and it’s a big challenge and of course to win it was something really special,” said Teetan, currently third in the local jockeys’ premiership behind Moreira (49) and Purton (28) with 25 winners.

Also representing Hong Kong are Neil Callan, Vincent Ho and Alexis Badel.

Moore, who rides Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, looks to add to his 2010 IJC title and is joined by the in-form duo of Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle. The latter has landed one of the plum rides in any of the four IJC legs, as she was selected at random to guide the David Hayes-trained Harmony N Blessed (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) in the final race of the series. The 4-year-old led every step of the way to break his maiden at first asking as the $2.50 (3-2) favourite going 1200 metres at Sha Tin Nov. 22.

The remaining visiting riders include Mickael Barzalona, two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Pierre-Charles Boudot and William Buick.

The Wednesday program at Happy Valley commences at 6.30pm local time (10.30am BST, 5.30am US Eastern time) with the first of the IJC races set to jump at 8.10. Click for the HKJC form guide.

The post Longines IJC Gets HKIR Week Rolling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Hollie Doyle Keen To Continue Spectacular 2020 In International Jockeys’ Championship

In her wildest dreams, Hollie Doyle could not have dared to hope for a more spectacular year after a season of staggering achievements, but the English rider hopes to crown a wondrous 2020 with more success in the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong next Wednesday (Dec. 9).

Acclaimed as winner of The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award and shortlisted for the prestigious BBC sports personality of the year award, the 24-year-old has triumphed on an unprecedented scale in 2020.

Doyle bettered her own 2019 record for the most wins (116) amassed by a female rider during a calendar year in Great Britain and, as of Dec. 2, has posted 139 wins. Additionally, she also finished fourth in the 2020 British Flat Jockeys' Championship.

Noting the highest-ever placing by a woman, Frankie Dettori anointed Doyle as a future winner of the Championship after Doyle became the first woman to partner five winners on the same card at Windsor in August.

Doyle is part of a star-studded, six-jockey contingent from Europe to face the best of Hong Kong next week as she vies for the most lucrative jockeys' challenge winner's cheque in the world – a prize of HK$500,000 (about US$65,000).

Intriguingly, she will be pitted against her partner and fellow rising star Tom Marquand in an illustrious parade also containing Ryan Moore, a two-time winner of the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship, William Buick and French duo Pierre-Charles Boudot and Mickael Barzalona.

“Tom and I are really looking forward to going to Hong Kong,” Doyle said. “It is a place we have always thought about going to and the opportunity has now arisen so we are excited about the prospect.

“It is a great opportunity to ride in Hong Kong at the end of a great year.

“This year has been crazy really for the both of us. It could not have gone much better. We are really grateful and pleased with the way it has gone. We are already looking forward to next year and it would be fantastic to have even more success.”

Doyle rates Champions Day at Ascot on Oct. 17 as “the best day of my career so far”, when she and Marquand combined to ride four of the six winners on the program, crowned by breakthrough G1 success aboard Glen Shiel in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes.

“To win my first G1 was very special on Glen Shiel,” she said. “It is special that it was also such a great day for Tom and I. You rarely both get success like that on a good day, but we were both absolutely delighted. It was quite simply a day I will never forget.

“Having five winners at Windsor was obviously another special day. To have a winner for my new retained owner Imad Al Sagar as part of the five-timer and plenty of rides for different trainers has been brilliant and it was another great day in what has been a fantastic season for me.

“I am just trying to keep everything rolling and I am just delighted with how things are going.”

Doyle, who sits alongside Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton, cricketer Stuart Broad and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on the BBC sports personality of the year shortlist, partially attributes her soaring success to her connection with trainer Archie Watson.

“I am in Archie Watson's (yard) quite often and I know the horses inside and out so I think that has been a big part in the success that we have had,” she said.

“I just hope next season to keep riding lots of winners and with that hopefully lots of quality will come too.

“The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award hasn't really sunk in yet but it was so special to win it. It was a huge honor to have won the award. Having seen some of the previous winners I feel quite honored, it was a huge privilege.”

Eager to make an impact in Hong Kong at the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship, Doyle retains lofty – and patently attainable – objectives.

“I would love to win the Jockeys' Championship one day,” she said.

“I don't know whether that is going to be next year or in 10 years. I am constantly trying my hardest to achieve my best and it is obviously something I would love to do.

“Whether I land in that position or not is down to me having a bit of luck.”

Zac Purton, Joao Moreira, Karis Teetan, Vincent Ho, Alexis Badel and Neil Callan will represent the Hong Kong team at Happy Valley next Wednesday, Dec. 9.

The post Hollie Doyle Keen To Continue Spectacular 2020 In International Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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