No time to lose
In horse racing, timing is everything. That is something Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges knows only too well.
The CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), since 2007, has had a life-long passion for horse racing and breeding thoroughbreds and - through his role at the HKJC - spends much of his time at Hong Kong and international racing events.
But there is much more to his portfolio. He also serves as a member of the Executive Council of the Asian Racing Federation and is vice-chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the world's highest racing body. A Justice of the Peace since last year, he was also on the board of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) company, which managed the operations of the Olympic equestrian competition staged in Hong Kong.
Being able to combine such a busy working schedule with a personal life would seem a difficult task to many in his shoes.
However, for Engelbrecht-Bresges, time is certainly on his side.
He has the envious ability to need only about four hours' sleep a night, meaning he can make the most of 24 hours, both professionally and personally.
Furthermore, Engelbrecht-Bresges, who admits to also loving sports cars, played professional football in his younger years for German club Borussia M?nchengladbach, and credits much of his focus and discipline to that early athletic training.
'When I am really working [hard], a big thing for me is to not waste time,' he says.
'I'm a typical German in that there should be a certain output in a period of time. By the time you have reached the age of 24, that's 50 per cent of your life, so for me, it's [dealing with time] in a much more effective way.'
But it's not all work and no play for Engelbrecht-Bresges. Not needing so much sleep means he can indulge his love of reading novels and watching movies and, when he is lucky, enjoy dinner with friends.
This means Hong Kong's work-around-the-clock, service-oriented lifestyle is the ideal place for someone with such energy.
'For me, Hong Kong is fascinating due to the pace,' he says. 'You can do things on time here because of the service.'
Yet, while many night owls in the city are still slumbering the next day, Engelbrecht-Bresges is already awake and pounding the pavement or hitting the gym.
'I wake up around 5.15am to 5.30am and go for an eight to 10km run. If you've been a professional athlete, it's very difficult to switch off,' he says.
