Kerrin McEvoy has been given first right of refusal to partner Classique Legend in the Group One Hong Kong International Sprint.
The top jockey has been the horse’s regular rider and steered him to his barnstorming win in the $15 million The Everest last month.
Shortly afterwards, owner Bon Ho confirmed he would be sending Classique Legend to Hong Kong where he will be trained by Caspar Fownes.
The grey arrived in the Asian racing centre on Monday after serving a period in quarantine and Fownes told the South China Morning Post that McEvoy had been offered the mount on Classique Legend in the December 13 Sprint.
Top local jockey Vincent Ho Chak-yiu is on standby should McEvoy decide against making the trip.
“At this stage it is Kerrin McEvoy’s ride if he wants to come to ride him,” Fownes told the SCMP.
“If he can’t come, it will be Vincent. He has done a great job for the owner, obviously winning with Southern Legend last season.”
McEvoy is believed to be considering the Hong Kong trip but is hoping for a change to the current COVID-19 quarantine requirements which would necessitate him spending two weeks in isolation on his return to Australia.
The jockey had a win earlier this week when the Victorian Racing Tribunal reduced his $50,000 fine for breaching the whip rules aboard Melbourne Cup runner-up Tiger Moth.
McEvoy was successful in getting the fine cut to $30,000 on appeal.
