Britain's champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa has been granted permission by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (HKG1) on Sunday week along with fellow overseas riders Ryan Moore and Australians Tye Angland, Tommy Berry, Hugh Bowman and Blake Shinn.
De Sousa's first experience of race-riding in Hong Kong came this winter when his five-week stint resulted in 16 winners from 107 rides. In the Derby, he will reacquaint himself with the Dennis Yip-trained gelding Lucky Girl (Aus) (Onemorenomore {Aus}), on whom he won over a mile at Sha Tin on Feb. 6.
“I had a good time in Hong Kong this winter and picked up a number of winners,” said the Brazilian-born jockey.
“It's great to experience riding in different countries–the style and the pace are so different in Hong Kong to riding in England. It's hard to get on the top horses but I had a successful trip out there.”
He added, “It's a big step up in trip for Lucky Girl. He's an outsider but he's a genuine horse who I think will do really well in the future. It's good to be called back to be involved in such a big race day in Hong Kong.”
Ryan Moore, who has ridden 14 winners in Hong Kong so far this season, is to partner Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) for trainer John Size, who won last year's Hong Kong Derby with Luger (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}).
Tommy Berry, Hugh Bowman and Blake Shinn are all engaged by their compatriot John Moore for his Derby trio of Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}), Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and White Magic (Ire) (Aussie Rules {GB}), while Tye Angland rides Friends of Ka Ying (Aus) (Al Maher {Aus}) for Benno Yung.
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