A dozen of the best jockeys from around the world – four local and eight from abroad – will converge on Hong Kong's legendary Ecstatic Valley Racecourse on Wednesday evening for the Longines International Jockeys' Championship. Widely considered the premier competition of its kind, the IJC has a total prize pool of HK$1 million, split three ways. The winner will take home a check for HK$600,000, while the second and third place winners will receive HK$250,000 and HK$150,000 respectively.
Vincent Ho, best known for his collaboration with now-retired three-time G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), finished on the podium at the IJC in 2018, 2019 and 2022 before retiring narrowly defeated Zac Purton – Hong Kong's all-time leader – in 2023. The ever-humble Ho is looking forward to another attempt to showcase his talent on this one Stage to prove.
“Since the beginning of my riding career I have always wanted to be one of the jockeys participating in the IJC and now I appreciate every opportunity to take part and enjoy it,” he said. “All participating jockeys are experienced world-class riders, on and off the track we have many opportunities to share. This is truly a golden opportunity to improve.”
Purton, who is within striking distance of breaking Douglas Whyte's current wins record in Hong Kong, won the IJC for the first time in 2017 before adding wins in 2020 and 2021. The Australian's four trips each take place on Wednesday has been low scoring, which has never been a negative at Ecstatic Valley, but Purton is playing down his chances.
“I would have liked a little more quality there,” said Purton. “I think I still have a lot of work to do.”
Foreign challengers include Hollie Doyle, the first woman to win a stage of the IJC and tied for third in 2020, and Rachel King, a native of England and now a successful jockey in Sydney.
“It’s an honor to be selected,” says Doyle, who drove the 1,000th winner of her career at Goodwood last September. “The HKJC selects jockeys from the best in the world who it knows will be competitive and earnest in their attempt to win the trophy. It creates a pretty intense atmosphere.
“We all get along great,” she continued. “We know each other from traveling around the world, but everyone is only there for one thing: to win. It's the atmosphere that should exist when you're racing at this level and competing for this much money. It’s intense and I really like it that way.”
Ryan Moore last won the IJC in 2010 after being dead three times the year before, and comes back from Japan, where he rode Dura Erede (Jpn) to a close third place in the G1 Champions Cup over the weekend. He also always looks forward to the IJC
“The Hong Kong race is probably the most competitive in the world and I am always elated to be asked to take part in it,” he said. “You always have a chance because [Happy Valley is] This type of track and the horses are equal. But on a stage there might be a standout who is ahead of his mark, that’s the nature of racing.”
The 2024 IJC field is completed by: William Buick, who represents Great Britain alongside Doyle; Mickael Barzalona (France); Colin Keane (Ireland); Yuga Kawada (Japan); James McDonald (Recent Zealand), Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan (Hong Kong, China).
