Vincent Ho boosted hopes of LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) participation next month with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (15 November) as Pierre Ng maintained a blistering start to the season with a brace.
With three positions left in the star-studded 12-rider LONGINES IJC line-up at Happy Valley on 6 December, Ho is strongly placed to clinch the berth reserved for the leading home-grown rider at the completion of next Wednesday’s (22 November) meeting at Happy Valley.
While apprentice Angus Chung (17 wins) is ineligible, Ho (10) leads Matthew Chadwick (7) – who missed tonight’s meeting through suspension – with two meetings left to decide which riders will join Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, James McDonald, Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, Yuga Kawada, Mickael Barzalona and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.
With Hugh Bowman (21 wins) recovering from injury, two more spots will be allocated to the highest-ranked riders in the Hong Kong championship behind Purton (28), who slotted a double at Happy Valley this evening.
Resuming for the first time since 15 October, Ho announced his comeback in style with a comfortable win on Caspar Fownes-trained Valhalla in the Class 5 Kokura Handicap (1200m).
“I’m of course happy to get a winner, it (Valhalla) drew (barrier) one and that definitely helped. Thanks to Mr Fownes, who’s putting me on everything coming back and they’re all good chances – all credit to the team and the stables – and the horse did the job tonight.
“The IJC is always the goal. I’ll do my best to get in there and have a good week on international week.”