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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Lai joins New Zealand riding ranks
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • January 13th, 2026 12:45 pm
Apprentice jockey Alan Lai. Photo: Tony Kim
A fresh face has joined the Central Districts riding ranks this week, with Hong Kong national Alan Lai commencing a six-month stint in New Zealand.
The apprentice jockey has spent the last couple of years riding in South Australia under the tutelage of Morphetville trainers Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas, and fellow South Australian horseman Jon O’Connor.
Lai recorded 53 wins in Australia, with his highlight being three consecutive Outback Cups Series victories, including the City of Port Augusta Cup (2300m), Roxby Downs Cup (1800m) and Quorn Cup (1900m), aboard the New Zealand-bred Grinzinger Star for trainers Kylie Mckerlie and Waylon Hornhardt.
“I was in Australia for two years. It was good, all the jockeys were helpful and I got a lot of opportunities,” Lai said.
“I won seven different Cups races, three of those on Grinzinger Star.”
Lai commenced his riding career in his homeland when joining the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentice Training Program in 2018.
“I am very lucky and I joined the Hong Kong Apprentice Academy when I was 18,” the 25-year-old hoop said.
“I was training in Huang Chun in China and Conghua, the big training centre in China.
“I was training in China for about a year and then I went back to Hong Kong where I was stuck for a few years because of COVID. I rode trials in Hong Kong and I then went overseas at the end of 2022.”
Lai is following a well-trodden path for Hong Kong apprentices, with both Britney Wong and Nichola Yuen having also commenced their raceday riding careers in South Australia before venturing to New Zealand, with Wong achieving the ultimate aim of returning to ride in Hong Kong where she is currently indentured to trainer David Hall.
Lai has taken inspiration from Wong’s success and has spoken with her about her time in New Zealand.
“I spoke with Britney and she said it’s good (riding in New Zealand) but the weather can be quite bad,” he said.
Lai arrived in Palmerston North late last week and has teamed up with Daniel Nakhle’s New Zealand Equine Academy, powered by Entain, where he will be under the guidance of former champion jockey Leith Innes, who heads the Apprentice Jockey Academy.
He has been riding track work in the mornings for Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson, and he got his New Zealand stint off to the best possible start when riding the Bergerson-trained Bradman to victory in his 850m heat at the Foxton trials on Tuesday.
Lai is looking forward to riding at the races and trainers interested in utilising his talent can contact Leith Innes, who will act as his agent during his time in New Zealand, on 021 798 881.
“I don’t mind travelling and I will try to do the best I can,” Lai said.
