Former KZN-based jockey Jarred Samuel is enjoying life as a workrider in Hong Kong where he has been allocated to the yard of fellow South African Douglas Whyte.
He has been out here on holiday and spoke to Turf Talk.
He said, “I initially went over for Mr David Ferraris and when he closed up shop I was transferred to Mr Douglas Whyte. He is another fellow South African, so its good. I’m working with different calibres of horse and working with different people. It’s a very good experience. Mr Douggie Whyte is a very professional guy. He’s only just started his training career but I think he is going to do very well.”
He continued, “It has been a different kind of stint for me, not racing, but its beneficial because rides, especially in season time, were getting a bit scarce out here. Working out there at least you know you have a nice, fair income and the Hong Kong Jockey Club look after you, so I’m really enjoying it and loking forward to next season.”
He said about the general calibre of horse in Hong Kong, “I can’t really compare because the tracks are very light and fast. The horses are all very strong and well built, but at the end of the day our South African horses have been there and taken them on. So I can’t compare but its a different calibre of horse because they come from places like France, England, Australia etc so it’s a good experience for me and as they say in the racing game you’re never too old to learn.”
All of the workriding Jarred does is at Sha Tin racecourse, on both the dirt and turf tracks.
Besides his friendships with ex-pat SA jockeys Lyle Hewitson and Luke Ferraris the gregarious Jarred has made friends with numerous jockeys and industry people from all around the world.
“It’s a great experience meeting new people. Covid was a bit of a strain but since then they have showed me around Hong Kong and I have settled in quite nicely.”
He said about the traditional food, “I said I might as well try it and it’s not bad, I’m getting along nicely with it, so it’s good.”
Being attached to the Whyte yard, Jarred has ridden a lot of the horses that gave Lyle Hewitson his 27 wins last season.
He added, “I give my input and Douglas also works the horses, so he also provides a lot of input, and obviously Lyle rides work too. It a whole team effort.”
Jarred can expect to ride about six or seven horses in the mornings during the peak season, although it decreases in the off season.
