https://www.scmp.com/rss/315981/feed The Longines International Jockeys’ Championship sees 12 of the best jockeys in the world, representing their countries or regions, compete for the title of top rider at the uniquely demanding Happy Valley course on the Wednesday before the Hong Kong International Races. The 2014 event takes place on December 10th. The 2013 winner was Kerrin McEvoy of Australia en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com John Moore has ambitious plans for the horse that delivered him his 1,400th career win on Wednesday night, after Harbour Master won his second straight race at Happy Valley with the look of a thoroughbred that belongs in big races. Already Hong Kong's all-time leader in wins, Moore moved up to the milestone when the English import comfortably delivered as the 1.9 favourite and will now be set for the Group Three January Cup over last night's course and distance of 1,800m. That will, hopefully,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1660267/john-moore-harbour-master-belongs-big-boys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1660267/john-moore-harbour-master-belongs-big-boys?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:30:15 +0000 Champion Japanese rider Yuichi Fukunaga was both underrated and a quick learner in the process of perfection, as he stormed to a historic victory at Happy Valley in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship. Ten years after Japanese riding legend, Yutaka Take, dead-heated with Christophe Soumillon for the 2004 IJC title, Fukunaga rode the tricky Valley circuit like he does it every week, claiming two of the four legs to become the first of his nation to win the prestigious series... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1660273/quick-study-yuichi-fukunaga-historic-valley-victory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1660273/quick-study-yuichi-fukunaga-historic-valley-victory?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:39:54 +0000 The Japanese runners on Sunday provide the core of the foreign visitors and trainer Hideaki Fujiwara is rightly proud that the backbone of that core will come from his yard. Only infrequently has an overseas-based barn saddled runners in three of the four internationals - and those have usually been global behemoths like Godolphin or Coolmore - but Fujiwara takes his place beside them as the first Japanese trainer with three at the meeting, Archimedes (Cup), Straight Girl (Sprint) and Fiero... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1660085/hideaki-fujiwara-trained-primed-sunday-assault-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1660085/hideaki-fujiwara-trained-primed-sunday-assault-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:16:41 +0000 South Africa's S'Manga Khumalo keeps breaking down barriers in his homeland and the emerging talent sees tonight's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley as the first step to emulating his heroes and riding in Hong Kong. It's fair to say that of the 12 riders lining up in tonight's contest, none boast such an inspirational tale as the 29-year-old's unlikely path to stardom. Plucked from a Durban school as a 14-year-old by a South African Jockey Academy talent scout, Khumalo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1658935/inspirational-smanga-khumalo-eager-happy-valley-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1658935/inspirational-smanga-khumalo-eager-happy-valley-success?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:15:45 +0000 Reigning champion Kerrin McEvoy can join Douglas Whyte and Ryan Moore in winning consecutive Longines International Jockeys' Championship titles at Happy Valley tonight. Whyte is the only jockey to win the IJC outright two years in a row with his wins in 2007 and 2008, while Moore shared the spoils with Christophe Lemaire and Johnny Murtagh in 2009 before snaring the title by himself in 2010. And while McEvoy's book doesn't look the strongest, all four of his mounts will be well-positioned on or... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1658987/mcevoy-can-win-another-international-jockeys-championship-upset?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1658987/mcevoy-can-win-another-international-jockeys-championship-upset?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:15:30 +0000 Defending titleholder Kerrin McEvoy, British champion Richard Hughes and Japan's Yuichi Fukunaga emerged as the front runners for the Longines International Jockeys' Championship on Monday after the draw produced the usual mixed bag. Nearly all 12 jockeys picked up at least one good prospect for tomorrow night's showdown at Happy Valley, and the 2012 winner as a visitor, Hong Kong championship leader Joao Moreira, spelt out the task ahead for the foreign-based jockeys. "Happy Valley is a tricky... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1658070/foreign-raiders-gain-edge-draw-international-jockeys-championship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1658070/foreign-raiders-gain-edge-draw-international-jockeys-championship?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:45:00 +0000 One of the lesser-known roles of a Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentice School student is jockeys' room assistant. The youngsters watch and learn, get used to raceday routines, but also act as gopher for the senior jocks, fetching towels, water or whatever is required. This is where, in 2008, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, during gopher duty on International Jockeys' Championship night at Happy Valley, turned star-struck teenager and summoned up the courage to get an autograph off superstar rider Christophe... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1657045/ambitious-jockey-vincent-ho-has-his-sights-set-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/1657045/ambitious-jockey-vincent-ho-has-his-sights-set-top?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2014 14:30:00 +0000