Luke Ferraris is lying in second place on the Hong Kong jockeys table (Picture: HKJC)
The fight for a berth in the famous Happy Valley International Jockeys Challenge is mounting among Hong Kong-based riders and Lyle Hewitson gave himself an outside chance of getting a berth with a winner at Happy Valley on Wednesday, although he is still five behind Luke Ferraris, who is in second place on the Hong Kong log this season, two clear of the chasing pack.
Zac Purton is way out in front as leading jockey this season, but he has already qualified for the IJC as the Hong Kong Champion Jockey.
Therefore, the berth reserved for the leading jockey of the season goes to the second-place jockey.
The contenders are Ferraris on 15 wins, Hugh Bowman on 13 wins, Alexis Badel on 12 wins, Karis Teetan on 11 wins and Lyle Hewitson on 10 wins.
Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin is the last meeting for the others to catch Ferraris, so he has a fine chance of earning a berth.
There is one other berth still up for grabs for the leading homegrown jockey and the competition for that spot is particularly fierce.
Vincent Ho and Jerry Chau both scored doubles at Wednesday’s meeting to stay in contention.
Ho is on ten wins, Chau is on nine, Matthew Poon and Matthew Chadwick are both on seven and Derek Leung is on six.
Ho became the first homegrown jockey to win the IJC in 2023, netting himself a HK$600,000 first prize.
The ten jockeys who are already in the IJC, which takes place at Happy Valley next Wednesday, are Zac Purton, defending champion Mickael Barzalona, James McDonald, Christophe Lemaire, Umberto Rispoli, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, Joao Moreira, William Buick and Ryan Moore (subject to fitness).
Click here to read a report on Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting
