Tom Marquand took home the LONGINES International Jockeys Challenge at Happy Valley last year and the decorated British rider is looking forward to experiencing the city track in all its glory as he bids to retain his crown on Wednesday evening (6 December).
Marquand, who arrived in Hong Kong following another successful stint in Japan, shared the honours with Silvestre de Sousa last year and returns with another strong book of rides.
“This is the first year coming here without any restrictions,” said the 25-year-old jockey who, alongside wife Hollie Doyle, will represent Great Britain. “Last year was a bit turbulent but it’s fantastic to be back. It was great to win with Silvestre. You’d always rather win it on your own but it’s better to take it home with someone else than not at all.
“It looks like I’ve got a good enough book of rides that if things fall right it could all happen again, but it’s a tough evening of racing and it’s highly competitive.”
Local jockeys with knowledge of both the track and horses hold a considerable advantage in the event according to Marquand, who believes the quality of riders and strict interference rules combine to create an especially enjoyable event.
“When you come over to Hong Kong it’s people like Zac Purton’s stomping ground,” he said. “The local boys technically have track advantage so you have to do everything you can to make sure that doesn’t come into play and not miss a beat all evening, which is hard.
“Riding at Happy Valley is a pretty unique experience and if you adopted an English racing style over here you would be sat last with nowhere to go with a furlong out. Every time you come back you learn something new. It’s sharp but super fair.
“The interference rules are so strict so you have to be on it and you have some of the best jockeys in the world riding, so it’s ridiculously tight racing but to a really high level so it makes it fun to ride. The stakes are pretty high, too.”
