YOUNG English rider Darryll Holland announced his arrival on the Hong Kong scene with a sparkling first-day double - and heaved a happy sigh of relief.
'I'm really very, very happy with the way it's gone. In a way it is just good to have the first day behind me and have been so successful. It could not possibly have gone any better,' said the former British champion apprentice who raised a fully merited cheer from the opening day crowd at Sha Tin when Sure Win King (5-1) got up in a thrilling three-way finish to the final race.
That completed the double initiated by a much more comfortable win on Best One (10-1) in the featured Kwangtung Handicap Cup, the traditional trophy race on the first day of a new season.
Both horses are trained by Gary Ng Ting-keung who has been using Holland a lot in the mornings.
The Manchester-born jockey, who is here for three months, said: 'I have had a lot of support from Gary and I am glad that we have managed to be successful.
'I'm really pleased about Sure Win King because he's a nice horse. He was a bit fresh today and took time to settle but once I was able to really get him going in the straight and we got the gap, he responded very well.
