Sunday’s falls at Sha Tin have triggered a big mid-season shake up to Hong Kong’s jockey roster, with an influx of talent due to arrive to replace the four injured riders facing recovery time on the sidelines.
British superstar Ryan Moore, as well as Richard Kingscote, Declan McDonogh, James Orman, Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle will join the riding roster as the Hong Kong Jockey Club look to fill the gaps from Sunday onwards.
Moore returns to Hong Kong on a short-term contract having enjoyed plenty of success in the ultra-competitive racing jurisdiction throughout his career.
A two-time winner of the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley, Moore, 41, has a pair of G1 Hong Kong Cup victories to his name alongside a win in the city’s most prestigious race, the Hong Kong Derby.
Like Moore, Kingscote is a multiple Group 1 winner in England and Ireland and celebrated G1 Derby glory at Epsom aboard Desert Crown in 2022. The 38-year-old, who spent time riding in Japan in February last year, is set to make his first appearance in Hong Kong after competing on the all-weather over the winter.
Orman, 27, is yet to win at Group 1 level and will fly over for his debut in Hong Kong despite leading the Brisbane premiership by four wins. Following in the footsteps of Ben Thompson, he will make the jump from riding in Queensland to tackle the challenges of Sha Tin and Happy Valley.
Irishman Declan McDonogh has been long established as one of the leading flat jockeys in Ireland through his association with some of the leading trainers in the country. The 45-year-old has collected seven wins at the top level – the latest of which came in 2020 – and also enjoyed a stint as the late Aga Khan’s retained rider.
After he was crowned champion jockey in Ireland in 2006, McDonogh made his International Jockeys’ Championship debut at Happy Valley and rode Mustameet in the G1 Hong Kong Mile in the same year. His latest trip to Hong Kong came 16 years ago when he finished 12th aboard Mores Wells in the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
With Zac Purton, Vincent Ho, Keith Yeung and Angus Chung all out for an extended period, McDonogh’s contract will run from February 23 to April 2, while Kingscote and Orman have been ticketed from February 19 to April 2.
Marquand and Doyle will ride at Sha Tin on Sunday and Happy Valley on Wednesday, while Moore will be in Hong Kong for three meetings from February 26 to March 5 ∎
