British champions make an impression

Britain’s champion senior and junior jockeys have each made an impact in different parts of the world.

Not long after 17-year-old apprentice Tom Marquand claimed success on Tashbeeh at Caulfield in his first Australian ride, Silvestre de Sousa won a race on the first day of a three-week stint in Hong Kong.

Marquand will spend a month with David Hayes and Tom Dabernig in the British off-season as part of a scholarship funded by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour.

After a second place in the first race at Sha Tin on Saturday, de Sousa steered Crimson Heart to win for Tony Millard.

“I only arrived on Friday so it’s nice to get things going quickly,” de Sousa told the South China Morning Post.

Marquand is not likely to be seen too often during his stay in Australia with his master Richard Hannon keen to preserve his apprentices’ claim.

The 17-year-old had to work hard on his only ride on Saturday, getting Tashbeeh home for Hayes and Dabernig by a half neck over Radical.

“Mr Hannon didn’t want me coming over here trying to win as many race as possible,” Marquand said.

“But to win a race like that for Mr Hayes and Sheikh Hamdam, he won’t mind that too much.

“While it would be brilliant getting some winners out here I can’t be silly about it and get on everything I can.”