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Robinson inspired to winter in Macau

Robin Parke

FORMER Hong Kong dual champion jockey Philip Robinson will ride in Macau this winter.

Robinson, who spent five successful seasons in Hong Kong, was yesterday granted a three-month visiting international licence by the Macau Jockey Club (MJC), running from mid-November.

And Robinson confirmed from his Newmarket home that he would be riding in the Portuguese enclave.

'There are a couple of things to be sorted out and I don't think I'll necessarily be there for the full three months,' he said.

'I have a lot of friends in that part of the world and, to be honest, it was a bit boring here last winter because I did not ride at all after the British season ended,' said Robinson, who made headlines on his return to Britain by winning the St Leger last season on Bob's Return.

Robinson visited Hong Kong last winter and looked up many friends, including his former trainer here, David Oughton.

The former British champion apprentice who won the Irish and English 1,000 Guineas on the quality fillies Katies and Pebbles, is a good friend of Irish-American jockey Declan Murphy and trainer-brother Joe Murphy who are now based at Taipa.

It is expected that Robinson will come in for a number of rides for the well-stocked Murphy stable.

'There are obviously a lot of lighter weighted rides available in my stable because Declan cannot do the weight. It will be good for racing here to have Philip over for the winter and he can certainly count on rides from me,' said Joe Murphy.

Robinson first rode in Hong Kong very briefly for the late George Sofronoff back in 1979 and then returned on a full-time basis for Lam Hung-fie before moving to Oughton for four years.

The highlight was his dual championship and he left Hong Kong with one regret: he failed to win the Derby.

He came very close on San Domenico which finished second to William's Coach.

'Mind you, winning the St Leger was a bit of a consolation,' he said last season during his quick winter holiday.

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