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Vincent Ho, Jerry Chau edge closer to LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship selection
Hong Kong Jockey Club •  November 1st, 2026 8:00 pm
Vincent Ho rode a double at Happy Valley on Sunday | Photo: HKJC
The battle for the remaining two places in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) in December intensified at Happy Valley on Sunday (1 November) when leading contenders Jerry Chau and Vincent Ho both enhanced claims of selection.
With Ryan Moore, James McDonald, William Buick, Mickael Barzalona, Zac Purton, Saffie Osborne, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Rachel King, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira already confirmed for the 12-rider series at Happy Valley on 9 December, Chau and Ho consolidated their positions at the top of the pecking order for the final two places.
In-form Nichola Yuen has 17 wins for the season to be second to Purton (26 wins) in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship but she does not qualify for the four-race competition as an apprentice, leaving Chau (15 wins) and Ho (14 wins) at the top of the order for the two remaining berths.
With seven meetings left before the LONGINES IJC selection cut-off after the 25 November meeting at Happy Valley, Derek Leung (11), James Orman (10) and Karis Teetan (nine) also remain in contention.
Nichola Yuen continues a strong 2026/27 season with victory on Falcon Hunter | Photo: HKJC
Ho took riding honours on the day with a double, striking on Pierre Ng’s Incredible Moment in the second section of the Class 4 Huizhou Handicap (1200m) and Chris So’s The Boom Box in the Class 3 Zhuhai Handicap (1650m).
“There’s still a month to go, but I just focus on every ride and try to do my best,” Ho said.
Fresh from a Sha Tin treble on Wednesday (28 October), Yuen continued a blazing run of form with victory aboard Falcon Hunter for James Cummings in the Class 5 Dongguan Handicap (1200m).
Celebrating his first win at Happy Valley, Cummings said: “I spoke to his owner Alex (Chan) last start and we agreed third-up he would be absolutely cherry ripe to break through and it’s worked out there, aided by a beautiful ride by Nichola, who accepted that Plan A would be the box seat, but was open-minded to lead if the race allowed.
“It’s lovely to be here and it’s a pleasure to get our first winner at Happy Valley.”
Chau also extended his rich vein of form with a well-timed ride on Frankie Lor-trained Grit Spirit in the Class 4 Foshan Handicap (1650m).
Lor said: “Last season, he still wasn’t very good, but in his first two races this season, he has gone better. He finished third and then last time fifth, so I stepped him up to 1650m. He got a good draw (barrier three) and that made it easier for the jockey. His sire is Dundeel, so 1600m and further will work for him. I hope he can keep going.”
Karis Teetan receives the Kwangtung Handicap Cup from Mrs Priscilla Liao Wong Pui Sze SBS JP, wife of The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman, The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Photo: HKJC
Teetan was impressed with Francis Lui’s Turquoise Velocity after the gelding sat outsider leader Rising Force before comfortably winning the Class 2 Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1200m).
“He’s a horse that’s actually been maturing really nicely,” Teetan said. “He’s got a lot of ability but last season he wasn’t fully mature and doing everything right. He just sort of ran to his ability and running with his speed and hoping to hold on, whereas this season he’s come back a more mature horse.
“You can see now that he can actually take a sit and he can quicken up. I think today was a good win and the way he felt underneath me, I feel like that there’s some more improvement to come.”
Teetan sealed a race-to-race double when he partnered Danny Shum’s Eternal Fortune to victory in the Class 3 Zhaoqing Handicap (1000m).
“He’s a consistent horse – he’s got six seconds and two thirds and always gets the prize money. This race, he had a good situation, the pace was good and he was in a nice spot, so he hit the line strong. It was a good ride by Karis,” Shum said.
After a frustrating start to the season with three wins, 13 seconds and 12 third placings before today’s meeting, Lui also landed a double after Superb King’s success for James Orman in the Class 4 Shantou Handicap (1000m).
Me Tsui also notched a brace for the second successive meeting after teaming with Matthew Chadwick to clinch the Class 4 Shenzhen Handicap (1800m) on Fast Speed before Dylan Mo slotted his first win of the season with the three-length victory of On The Way in the Class 3 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m).
“I’m very happy,” Mo said. “The owners of this horse give me a lot of support and Me Tsui also supports me. I just keep working hard and always do my best.”
Formerly known as Secure when trained by Chris Waller in Australia, where he won two races, the Snitzel gelding earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.
Dylan Mo posts his first win of the season as On The Way streaks clear | Photo: HKJC
Chadwick said Fast Speed was continuing to develop.
“He’s been coming along nicely, Me Tsui’s done nicely with him,” Chadwick said. “He’s become stronger over the course of time. He was a bit unlucky last time. He got a bit hampered in the run. He drew the right gate today (barrier three), he got a lovely run and showed some tenacity around the home turn. He got a bit of pressure but he kicked on nicely.”
Mark Newnham claimed his seventh win of the campaign when veteran Same To You lunged for a last-stride victory under Alexis Badel in the Class 4 Hong Kong College Of Emergency Medicine 30th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1200m).
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (4 November).
