British jockey David Probert will join the Hong Kong talent pool next season after being confirmed on a part-season Club Jockey’s licence.
The 36-year-old’s licence will run from July 17 to February 17 2026, both dates inclusive, and will join fellow British rider Richard Kingscote on the roster for next campaign.
Probert, best known for his partnership with trainer Andrew Balding down the years, is yet to win a Group One race but has snared 12 races at Group Two level, most recently the Summer Mile Stakes (1,600m) at Ascot in July on Never So Brave for Balding.
“It’s about improving myself as a rider and as a person, giving myself a little bit of space to see what I want to do moving forward. I want to achieve something I probably can’t in the UK,” Probert told the Racing Post.
He has come close on a plethora of occasions at the top level, including a second-place finish in the 2018 Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) on 50-1 outsider Tip Two Win for trainer Roger Teal.
Probert also filled out the same position on another roughie, 150-1 shot Hoo Ya Mal, in the 2022 Derby (2,400m) at Epsom. The race was won by Desert Crown, ridden by Kingscote for legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
His best season to date came in 2021, where he rode 169 winners from 1,236 rides. He has breached the century mark on eight occasions, including in the last four years.
Jockey Club releases 2025-26 fixture
Racing will return to Hong Kong on September 7 at Sha Tin after dates for the 2025-26 season were confirmed last week.
The biggest meeting in the city, Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), will be held on December 14, while FWD Champions Day is set for April 26.
The season will draw to a close at Sha Tin on July 12, while the final Group One of the season, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, goes ahead on May 24.
Keagan de Melo has a near miss back home
Hong Kong-based jockey Keagan de Melo nearly made the perfect trip back to South Africa when finishing third in the Group One Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville on Sunday.
He was riding See It Again for trainer Michael Roberts and looked to be traveling best when the field passed the 400m marker. The pair kept on gamely but never could quite get past $2.3 favourite The Real Prince, who was also overtaken late by Gladatorian.
