Vincent Ho is ready to take on the mantle of hometown hero as he faces the challenge of riding two red-hot chances Dec. 13 in the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has managed to maintain quality and a high level of global interest in a race day now entrenched as the last big international fixture of the year.
Classique Legend in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) and Golden Sixty in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) will carry more tickets—as locals like to put it—than most in their respective races, and Ho, who once dreamed of competing in the showjumping arena at the Olympics, is up for the challenge against a collection of the world's best riders.
"I'm excited but not nervous," he said. "I've worked hard for this day, and I'm so thankful to the owners and trainers for trusting me to ride their horses in these big races.
"We have the best jockeys in the world coming to Hong Kong for this meeting, and they could have asked any of them to take over. But they have stuck with me, and I'm really grateful. I'm looking forward to it."
Ho Chak-yiu, 30, grew up in Clearwater Bay, East Kowloon, an unlikely starting point for a jockey competing against the likes of Ryan Moore and William Buick, who come from families steeped in racing.
"My dad used to watch racing on TV, but Mum would take me out shopping, saying it was boring waiting half an hour to watch a race that might take only a minute to run," he relates.
Entering his teens, Ho thought briefly about a career as a Formula One driver before settling for equestrian sports. At 13, he sat on a horse for the first time at Pokfulam public riding school—he loved showjumping—and three years later, after answering a newspaper advert, he won a place at the Jockey Club's apprentice school.
There followed a professional grounding that enabled him to develop an affinity with horses and a burgeoning riding talent. He spent time at a stable on an Australian bush track before a year with Lance O'Sullivan in New Zealand.
"I rode 44 winners there and got plenty of suspensions … and they were cold winters," Ho recalled. "Aged 18, it made me tougher mentally and physically."
Ho had long admired the European jockeys who regularly came to Hong Kong. He befriended Gerald Mosse, who gave him introductions in France, but it was Ryan Moore's suggestion that he contact Mark Johnston at Middleham that was a turning point.
"Ryan is a great jockey and horseman, and he's willing to help young jockeys," said Ho. "I asked him how I could improve my riding. He said Mr. Johnston has runners everywhere and that I would be able to get more rides from him in the U.K. than by going to Newmarket."
There then followed two summer stints in Middleham in 2018 and 2019 and an impressive strike rate of seven winners from just 27 rides.
"It was good advice. The more you ride, the better you get. I'm very grateful to Ryan and also Mr. Johnston for that opportunity. I hope to go back there next summer if it is possible."
Ho has a full book of rides in the International Races after Christophe Soumillon's enforced absence. He has picked up solid local stayer Ho Ho Khan in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), and he also rides Dances With Dragon for his old boss Caspar Fownes in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1).
As for his big guns, he is displaying plenty of confidence. He says being aboard Golden Sixty is like riding a Ducati motorcycle.
"He is quite special. His turn of foot is amazing," the rider said. "When he won the (Hong Kong) Derby in March, it was crazy. He ran his last two furlongs like a sprinter."
Golden Sixty will be attempting his 11th win in succession, and even against Breeders' Cup surprise packet Order of Australia and former champion Beauty Generation, the jockey is not fazed.
"I think Golden Sixty is still improving," he said. "He's grown a bit this year, and he's come back stronger after his break. I think he's still learning."
Ho rides Classique Legend in the Sprint for the first time in a race. He was impressed when partnering the winner of Randwick's feature The Everest in a barrier trial at Sha Tin recently, and he has been in touch with Kerrin McEvoy, the gelding's regular jockey in Australia.
"He was a bit lost in the trial because it was his first time on a straight course. He will have come on for that experience," he said.
Ho is the most talented local jockey to come through the ranks since Tony Cruz 40 years ago. This quiet, modest, yet ambitious young rider is now set to seize this opportunity to let the world know it.
