Vincent Ho reaches 500 wins
Synonymous with Golden Sixty’s (Medaglia D’Oro) greatest triumphs, Vincent Ho has become only the second home-grown jockey to ride 500 wins in Hong Kong, joining the legendary Tony Cruz in a select club with victory aboard Lucky Gold (Iffraaj) at Sha Tin yesterday.
Fittingly, Ho’s milestone was reached in tandem with Francis Lui, the quietly-spoken trainer who has exclusively used Ho aboard eight-time Group 1 winner Golden Sixty, who recently returned to the top of the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
“It’s feels like ages when you watch the videos of when I got my first winner,” said Ho, 32, a product of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Talent Centre (HKJCRTT), who rode his first winner in the city in 2009/10 after an educational stint in New Zealander under Lance O’Sullivan.
“It’s picked up this season, but hopefully there will be more (winners). I was lucky to get into the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentices’ School when I was a little bit heavy or a little bit taller than the limit.
“I’m really grateful to the Club and Amy Chan [Racing Talent Centre Head-mistress] for putting so much effort into local boys and we are doing our best to help the next generation to be a role model as well because we know how it feels from back then and we want to help them believe.
“I’ve always loved riding and loved horses and when I first signed with Amy Chan, the goal was to produce world-class jockeys so that was my dream as well.”
Lui said: “I’m very happy for him [Ho], congratulations. He’s so honest, he always tries his best and even at trackwork and everything, we communicate well. He’s a very good jockey.”
Cruz rode 946 winners in a fabulous Hong Kong career and also featured in several major international victories, while Ho hopes to continue building a tally bolstered by Golden Sixty’s 24 wins to date.
“He’s [Golden Sixty] definitely got me a lot of recognition in Hong Kong and around the world because of Golden Sixty and he’s definitely very special to me and I can’t say thanks enough to the owner and the trainer who have continuously supported me even though sometimes I make mistakes,” Ho said.
Mighty Stride (Rich Enuff) capped a magnificent meeting for Ricky Yiu with victory in the Class 3 Designs On Rome Handicap (1400m) under Hugh Bowman.