Ellis Wong, the newest apprentice jockey to join Hong Kong’s riding roster, was introduced to local media this morning (Friday, 5 May) at a press conference.
Wong, 22, will commence his Hong Kong career with one ride this Sunday (7 May) at Sha Tin for his master, four-time championship-winning trainer Caspar Fownes, when he gets the leg-up on Kaholo Angel in the Carnation Plate (1000m) for Griffins.
“I joined The Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2017. I went to Australia for around three years and got 88 winners. I am very pleased and excited to be able to come back to Hong Kong to compete with other outstanding jockeys,” Wong said.
A former taekwondo champion of Hong Kong, Wong was sent to Australia for a short stint to obtain the necessary experience required to compete on the highly competitive Hong Kong racing circuit.
Wong was indentured to trainer Gary Searle in South Australia, riding 88 winners overall. He proved a popular three-kilogram claiming option for many of the state’s handlers.
Amy Chan, The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Racing Talent Training Centre Executive Manager and Headmistress of the Apprentice Jockeys’ School, said: “We are very proud to share that Ellis Wong has been approved by the Licensing Committee to come back to Hong Kong as an apprentice jockey and that he will be allocated to our very famous trainer Caspar Fownes.”
“We’re very confident that Ellis, with the help of trainer Caspar Fownes and our riding instructors, especially our Chief Riding Instructor Felix Coetzee, that I am sure Ellis will have a very good go in Hong Kong.”
Before being posted in Australia, Wong began riding out at Sha Tin for two of Hong Kong racing’s all-time greats – Tony Cruz and Danny Shum.