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The Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) will see a star-studded cast of overseas jockeys taking the Happy Valley by storm on 6th December. Ryan Moore and James McDonald are among the seasoned veterans of the competition, while Rachel King and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev will make their debut in the contest.
King, who hails from Britain but will represent Australia, recently won the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes on Ozzmosis at Flemington. Murzabayev, on the other hand, will fly the flag for Germany after winning four consecutive jockeys' championships in the country from 2019 to 2022.
Silvestre de Sousa, one of last year's joint winners, has had his Hong Kong licence disqualified for betting offences. However, Tom Marquand, the other reigning IJC champion, will be back to defend his crown, joined by his wife Hollie Doyle in representing Britain. Yuga Kawada from Japan and Frenchman Mickael Barzalona complete the eight-strong overseas contingent.
“The Longines International Jockeys’ Championship is one of the most exciting and prestigious events in the international racing calendar, and this year is no exception. We have a spectacular line-up, and in particular, I am excited to welcome Bauyrzhan Murzabayev and Rachel King to participate in the event for the first time,” Andrew Harding, the Jockey Club’s executive director of racing, said.
Hong Kong's reigning champion jockey Zac Purton will participate in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship despite the absence of his nearest rival, Hugh Bowman, who suffered a fall at Sha Tin. Bowman has fractured his right scapula and three vertebrae and is expected to be unfit to ride for six to eight weeks.
This means that Matthew Chadwick will take his place on California Spangle for the upcoming Group Two Jockey Club Mile, and Chadwick and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu are the leading contenders for the local spot in the IJC field. The remaining two positions in the 12-strong field will go to the second- and third-highest-ranked riders in the Hong Kong premiership.
The competition works on a points-based system, with a total prize pool of HK$1 million, including HK$600,000 for the winner.