Fresh from arriving in Hong Kong a day earlier, Michael Dee delivered the ideal start to his short riding stint in the Asian racing hub by riding a winner on debut.
He was, in fact, narrowly denied a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday though Dee described his triumphant start as a dream as he joined a select band of jockeys to ride a winner at their first attempt at the city circuit.
Dee was aboard the David Hayes-trained Starry Night in the Class 5 Cornflower Handicap (1000m), and Dee emulated the feats of, among others, Karis Teetan, Luke Currie, Shane Dye and Grant van Niekerk in riding a winner at their first Hong Kong attempt.
“It’s been extremely good,” Dee said.
“I think that’s certainly the dream start – to ride a winner on my first horse but unfortunately, I couldn’t get a second winner,” Dee said, lamenting Sight Hero’s effort to miss by a head after rattling home.
“Couldn’t ask for a better start.”
“That’s what dreams are made of and I was hoping I would come here tonight and for it to be a successful one.”
Dee, 27, is the first jockey to post a winner at his first Hong Kong ride since Luke Currie’s– also for Hayes – at Sha Tin in January 2022.
Dee posted his 11th Group 1 success on Saturday at Morphettville riding Royal Merchant to victory in The Goodwood (1200m).
