For a jockey who has lived a life of steady progression, Richard Kingscote’s return to Hong Kong seems like a natural evolution. Yet it’s also a reminder of how timing, more than anything, can shape the career of the world’s top riders.
“I’ve always had a job in the UK, so moving away has never really been on the cards, but I did enjoy my six weeks here and it ended well,” Kingscote tells Idol Horse on his return to trackwork and barrier trials at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning. “It felt like a good time and a good opportunity to just see how it plays out.
“Whatever comes after these six months – if I get to stay or I go home – it will be good for my riding.”
After he collected four wins and valuable experience during a six-week stint based at Sha Tin last season, Kingscote enjoyed a marquee summer in Britain with two Group 1 victories courtesy of Time For Sandals and Qirat.
The surprise win of 25/1 shot Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot marked the first top-level winner for trainer Harry Eustace – brother of Hong Kong-based David – and was followed by success on the Sussex Downs that will live long in the memory for the 39-year-old rider.
Kingscote hopped aboard 150/1 chance Qirat to act as pacemaker for Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes, but proceeded to become the jockey responsible for the longest-priced winner of a feature race in Britain since Theodore won the St Leger at 200/1 in 1822.
It’s a win that Kingscote suggests may have partially been a result of his first stint in Hong Kong, where the early pace is frenetic and positioning is key.
“I was on pacemaking duties and ended up with a Group 1 winner so I was pretty happy with that,” he said.
“I’ve always enjoyed being in front, but it was only here in Hong Kong when I started doing clockwork – when a trainer asks you to do a certain time. It’s not something that comes naturally to us British riders, so I think being here helped for sure.
“Overall, though, I was in really good shape heading into the British season and I think I was also a little bit more relaxed because I knew I was coming out here. It seems people in Hong Kong know about it now, which can only help.”
Kingscote hopes his recent momentum, along with the treble he collected at the end of his short-term contract in Hong Kong, can hold him in good stead heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
“I’m still a new face, so I don’t expect there to be fireworks, but hopefully I can get a bit of support like we did last time and I think that treble will help,” he added. “Learning the system here is going to be a big change for me, so we’ll just have to see how it goes. It was a great experience the first time and hopefully we can build on it.”
When asked where he hopes his initial support will come from, Kingscote said he will look to rekindle his relationship with Ricky Yiu, who provided the Englishman with two of his three wins under the lights at a midweek Sha Tin meeting in March.
“Ricky [Yiu] was really helpful the first time I was here and so was David Eustace,” he said. “Chris So put me on in a trial this morning as well, so hopefully I can build a few relationships and build a bit of support.” ∎
