Victor Wong will get the race-day leg-up in Hong Kong for the first time at Sunday’s (25 March) Sha Tin fixture and the 10lb apprentice is looking forward to this next phase of his career.
“I’m excited to ride in Hong Kong,” Wong said during a media event at Sha Tin this morning, Friday, 23 March. “This is my dream, to ride with so many top jockeys here, so I hope to keep learning and I’ll be doing my best.”
Wong, 24, is indentured to Group 1-winning handler Tony Millard and has been developing his skills in Australia, riding in Tasmania and South Australia for career figures to date of 120 wins from 1,092 race rides. He has had 42 wins this season to sit seventh in the South Australian Jockeys’ Championship.
“At first I was in Tasmania with trainer Leon Wells and he taught me a lot, and then I took another step when I was with Richard Jolly in South Australia; the two places have different riding styles, so I was able to learn from that,” Wong said.
Andrew Harding, HKJC’s Executive Director, Racing; Trainer Tony Millard and Apprentice Jockey Victor Wong meet media representatives in a press session at Sha Tin Racecourse this morning.
The apprentice has been learning the ropes around the Millard stable for the past two weeks.
“Mr. Millard has given me the chance already to get to know the different horses in the stable, so I will just keep learning with my boss,” he said.
Millard said that he has been pleased with Wong’s attitude and demeanour so far, and stressed the need for a conservative approach to the jockey’s development on a circuit that is rightly regarded as one of the toughest in the world.
“He’s fitted in pretty well,” the handler said. “We work seven days a week, so every day he’s riding a bit of fast work, and we put him on different horses because he needs to learn to ride all of our horses – some of the difficult ones as well, because he can’t just ride the easy ones. He’s coped well.
“There’s scope for improvement, like all of us, but if we can start off a little conservatively with him, I think it can be an upward spiral. I’m certainly happy with his demeanour and he’s become one of the team – I have people who have been with me for 14 or 15 years so it’s quite easy to slot in because there’s so much experience there, and he’s been well-accepted.”
Mr. Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Racing, emphasised the expert guidance that Wong has received and will continue to receive under the auspices of the Hong Kong Apprentice Jockeys’ School and its Racing Development Team.
“Hong Kong is an ultra-competitive environment but he comes here with a number of advantages: the support of Amy Chan and the Racing Development Team; the expert advice of world-class jockey Felix Coetzee; and also the considerable advantage of the mentoring and advice of a trainer with many years of experience and success in Tony Millard,” he said.
Mr. Harding welcomed Wong and expressed confidence that his career in Hong Kong is commencing at the right time for both the rider and the circuit as a whole.
“When the Club makes a decision on bringing in a new apprentice, there are a number of considerations to be taken into account,” he said. “Ability, plainly, is front and centre but there are also issues such as timing, and the effect that bringing in another rider will have on the existing roster. The Club has determined that the time is now right for Victor to join us.
“In terms of his ability, he has used his time overseas very profitably. When you look at what he has achieved in Tasmania and South Australia, he has developed as a very capable young rider and we are delighted to welcome him to the ranks of the Hong Kong riders as he embarks on this next stage of his development.”
Wong will ride at a minimum of 105lb. He has three rides on Sunday and is slated to kick off his Hong Kong career aboard the Millard-trained Rugby Diamond in race one, the Class 5 Amber Handicap (1200m, dirt) at 12.45pm.
