INTRIGUING CLASH LOOMS BETWEEN SOME OF WORLD'S BEST YOUNG RIDERS

MONDAY morning's allocation of jockeys for the Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship helped reinforce the notion that race fans are in for an intriguing clash between some of the world's best young riders against the more established order at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

For example, two of the riders on the evening are teenagers - Joe Talamo from the United States and Hong Kong's champion apprentice Matthew Chadwick.

Meanwhile the glamorous Canadian jockey Chantal Sutherland, and Sydney champion Hugh Bowman and former British champion apprentice William Buick will generate further interest on their first experience around Happy Valley's unique contours.

Triple Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Challenge and perennial Hong Kong champion Douglas Whyte, Japanese ace Yasunari Iwata along with current Irish and British champions Johnny Murtagh and Ryan Moore will pose formidable opposition, as will Christophe Lemaire (France) Andreas Suborics (Germany) and Howard Cheng (HK).

Chadwick's tale, of course, is unprecedented as this time last year he had not even made his riding debut in Hong Kong.

Now he represents his hometown and is with a reasonable chance of CXIJC success having drawn the mounts on Conqueror, the front-running Jolly Wongchoy and Lasker.

"It's a great privilege and honour to be invited to take part in this championship. I used to watch it on TV and I never dreamed that I would be a part of it, never mind so soon," Chadwick said.

The star apprentice said he was looking forward to his first ride for John Size on Lasker, whom in recent starts has been compromised by wide draws and left racing without cover.

"He won't face that this time from barrier three," Chadwick enthused, "and he seems he likes to race forward so hopefully I can get a few points out of him."

Former German champion jockey Andreas Suborics has twice won CXIJC races and twice finished runner-up overall and felt his best of this three mounts this year would be aboard Moon Chaser in the third leg.

"His trainer Paul O'Sullivan just told me that he is improving and that he will be suited stepping up to the mile for the first time and he is drawn okay in seven so that is good to hear."

Christophe Lemaire incurred a riding ban in Japan over the weekend to rule him out of his intended three mounts in Sunday's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races.

However, the French pilot will have been heartened by the news that he has three good mounts on Bobo Win, Grand General and Achilles Of Troy.

The three mounts allocated to Irish champion John Murtagh - Tremendous Plus, Master Dreamer and Speedy Warrior all boast winning course and distance form and have all drawn well.

 

HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MEDIA RELEASE