He may have had to sacrifice a few extra weeks of holiday this summer, but an early return to Hong Kong has paid off for jockey Jerry Chau, who has been handsomely rewarded with two chances of feature-race success in Korea next month.
Chau will tackle the Seoul sand for the first time after securing the ride on the Francis Lui-trained Chancheng Glory in the G3 Korea Cup (1800m) and Manfred Man’s Self Improvement in the G3 Korea Sprint (1200m) on September 7.
But the opportunity to test his mettle in Korea has not come through a prolific streak in the saddle – he finished 15th in last season’s championship with 23 wins. It has been earned through his determination to return to Hong Kong earlier than most of his weighing room colleagues to prepare for the new season.
“I managed to have a short freshen-up and made sure I was feeling good and ready to go when I got back on August 1,” Chau told Idol Horse. “Then as soon as I knew the horses were going to Korea, I gave Mr Lui and Mr Man a ring, because I really wanted to get a chance to ride over there.”
“Because I was back in Hong Kong at the beginning of August, it meant I could work with the horses over the break and all the way up to the races. Luckily, they said they’ll give me the chance.”
Chau, who will head off to Korea instead of riding on the opening day of the Hong Kong racing season at Sha Tin on September 7, hasn’t ridden the 113-rated Chancheng Glory in any of his 29 starts, and has only partnered Self Improvement twice in the same number of appearances.
“To be honest, I’m really thankful to both the owners and the trainers for giving me the support and opportunity to go over there,” Chau added. “It will be great to get some experience riding somewhere else because I want to ride in as many places around the world as I can.”
Chancheng Glory kept on well for a breakthrough Group 3 victory in the Centenary Vase at Sha Tin in January and held his own at the top level a month later, finishing third in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) behind Voyage Bubble.
While he hasn’t raced on Sha Tin’s dirt track, Chau is hopeful his barrier trial experience on the surface and his American pedigree will hold him in good stead when he meets the deep Seoul sand in the Korea Cup. Chancheng Glory’s sire, Mor Spirit, was a dual Grade 1 winner on dirt in the US.
“He’s trialled quite well on the all-weather at Sha Tin and of course he’s an American-bred horse, so I’m hoping he’ll be able to handle the sand,” Chau said. “He’s a lovely big-striding, smooth, straightforward horse. I like his action and he’s been very calm in his work.
“We won’t definitely know if he’ll handle it until we get over there, but I’ll gallop them both in Korea before the race and get a better idea then.”
While Chau admits the surface remains an unknown for Chancheng Glory, he is confident Self Improvement will be able to handle the sand. All four of the six-year-old’s wins have come on the all-weather at Sha Tin.
“He’s doing really well,” Chau said of Self Improvement. “I rode him a long time ago in a couple of races and he’s a very mature horse. He’s very professional and he knows what he’s doing in the morning.
“He’s got some natural speed, so hopefully I’ll be able to get him out and maybe go forward on him.”
The rider will get an opportunity to hop aboard both horses at the first set of Sha Tin barrier trials on Friday morning before they fly off at the end of next week.
“I travel over on September 3 and I’ll gallop them both the next day,” Chau said. “They will both fly out either August 29 or 30.” ∎
