David Probert “looking forward to first go at Sha Tin” on opening day of Hong Kong season

David Probert will take his first rides in Hong Kong on Sunday at the 2025/26 season-opening meeting at Sha Tin, while fellow British rider, Richard Kingscote, who rode four winners from 42 rides in a short stint last season, has been booked for six rides.

Probert, who like Kingscote has been granted a six-month licence to ride in Hong Kong, will be aboard the Chris So-trained Manythanks Forever in the first race, the Grassy Hill Handicap (6:00am UK), and then take the ride on Otokomae for trainer Dennis Yip, in the Lantau Peak Handicap (10:45am UK).

Probert said: “I’m looking forward to my first go at Sha Tin – it looks like a football stadium! I’ve got two rides and if they can run well, I’ll be very happy.

“I trialled Manythanks Forever last week and galloped him on Thursday morning, so I know the horse quite well. It was nice to draw stall one and hopefully that will make my job a little bit easier to start off with. He won last season, so it’s nice for Chris So to give me a chance.

“Otokomae got drawn out in 12. Sha Tin’s all about early speed and track position, so I’ll need to get him into a good spot. He’s a young horse that is still quite green round this track.

“I’m doing lights – I’m able to do the 116lbs [8st 4lbs] over here – so hopefully that will open up more opportunities. The facilities here are amazing, so you’ve kind of got no excuse. I would have done 8st 6lbs at home, but never 8st 4lbs.”

It’s been a swift change of scene for Probert, who last rode in Britain under two weeks ago, when partnering Queen All Star to victory at Goodwood.

“It’s been very busy with morning work, getting used to the horses and the track. Everything happens a bit more quickly over here – they do everything by times – and it’s getting used to what the trainers want you to do,” he said.

“I’ve managed to meet most of the trainers and am trying to get a bit of a foothold, to know what the routine is all about. I’m slowly getting there.

“It’s been good fun, and I’ve enjoyed it so far. I just really need to get on the board, get a few more rides and hopefully have a bit of luck.”

In studying for his rides and trying to get a handle on how everything works in Hong Kong, Probert was full of praise for the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s online platform.

“It’s amazing, they’ve done everything so right with the platform in Hong Kong,” he said. “Everything is made public, so it’s so easy for people to see information on trackwork, on gallops. In the UK, you’d be blind going into some rides and some horses you wouldn’t know how they’ve galloped or anything. To have that information at hand is brilliant.”

Former British-based jockeys Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley will also be in action on Sunday, with eight and four rides respectively.

Ka Ying Rising bidding for consecutive HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup wins

Ka Ying Rising, a four-time Group 1 winner and last season’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year will attempt to extend his winning streak to 13 races in Sunday’s HK$3.72 million (approx. £350,000) Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap at Sha Tin.

Trainer David Hayes believes the world’s highest-rated sprinter is well placed to repeat last season’s opening-day heroics, when he set a weight-carrying record under 135lb to become the first horse to win the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup carrying more than 130lb.

Hayes said: “Last year it poured and he won with a big weight and a wide gate (seven), so this year he’s got a good gate (four) and he’s probably going to be 15 to 20 pounds heavier but that’s strength, not fitness.

 “I thought his trial showed that he’s back in very good form.”

The world’s highest-rated sprinter will attempt to become the first horse to win the race twice and then set up a tilt at the AU$20 million The Everest at Randwick on 18 October.

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Record prize money and increased prize money for Group 1 events

With total prize money at a record level of HK$1.74 billion (approx. £166m), this season’s Hong Kong Group 1 races, particularly those staged on HKJC’s flagship racedays, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day, are highly regarded for the global fields of equine talent they attract.

To uphold their prestige, the Club will offer record prize money totalling HK$208 million (approx. £20m) in these races in the 2025/26 season through increases of HK$2 million (approx. £190,000) for four feature races.

For FWD Champions Day, prize money for the FWD QEII Cup will rise to HK$30 million (approx. £2.9m), while the Chairman’s Sprint Prize will increase to HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m), taking the total prize money for the three G1 races to a total of HK$78 million (approx. £7.4m).

For the international day in December, the increases apply to the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, with prize money rising to HK$28 million (approx. £2.7m), and the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, rising to HK$26 million (approx. £2.5m), while the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile stays on HK$36 million (approx. £3.4m) and the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup will be run for prize money of HK$40 million (approx. £3.8m), taking the total Group 1 prize money purse to HK$130 million (approx. £12.4m).

The new 2025/26 Hong Kong racing season begins at Sha Tin on Sunday 7 September, with a 10-race card getting underway at 6am (UK time).

Follow @HongKong_Racing for all the latest news from the world-class racing scene in Hong Kong.

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