Nervous times for leading jockeys saddling up for a different kind of race
It may be a bit of fun but pride is at stake in a novelty competition at the Hong Kong Masters
The nervous looks on the faces of the "learner riders" said it all yesterday, as four leading jockeys prepared for tonight's "Race of the Riders" in front of a sellout crowd at AsiaWorld-Expo on the first night of the Longines Hong Kong Masters.
Joao Moreira, Neil Callan, Matthew Chadwick and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu will saddle up for a different race to help celebrate the Hong Kong Jockey Club's 130th anniversary.
They will team up with some of the world's best showjumping riders and horses in a specially designed "against the clock" format.
I feel a lot better now that I have had a look at the jumps and got familiar with the horse I will be riding. It is very different to riding horses in a race
The quartet, who will have to adjust from what Chadwick described as the "head down and flat-out" style of race riding, to a more upright and refined technique, got a first look at the course under the guidance of teammates yesterday.
Chadwick is paired with local rider Raena Leung Hou-ling, who also lines up in tonight's Hong Kong Jockey Cup, with the duo an obvious choice as the crowd favourites.
"I'm hoping for some extra support from the fans," Chadwick said after his practice round.
