Kerrin McEvoy is yet to commit to riding Classique Legend in the Hong Kong Sprint as he waits to see if there is any change to current quarantine requirements.
As it stands, the top jockey would have to spend Christmas in isolation if he travelled to Hong Kong for the Group One ride on December 13.
While keen to continue his partnership with The Everest winner, who has since been transferred from the Randwick yard of Les Bridge to Caspar Fownes in Hong Kong, McEvoy is also hesitant to miss Christmas celebrations with his young family.
“It would be great to go. At the moment, as it stands, you’d be Christmas in quarantine which wouldn’t be ideal so we’re just going to wait and see how things unfold in the next 10 days,” McEvoy said on Sydney’s Sky Sports radio.
“It would be great to stay on him but connections are understanding given the time the quarantine will fall in.
“It would be a shame to miss out but hopefully there will be a day I’ll be able to get back on him in a race overseas, or even back in Australia if he comes back.”
Fownes and Classique Legend’s owner Bon Ho have given McEvoy until the eleventh hour to decide if he will make the trip.
Local jockey Vincent Ho is on standby.
Classique Legend has already arrived at Fownes’ stable and all reports indicate he has settled in well.
The Sydney-based jockey has been riding in Melbourne since the Manikato Stakes meeting in October but has missed the past two Saturday programs through suspension.
He returns to the saddle for the Ballarat Cup meeting this weekend and has picked up the mount on the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Junipal in the feature.
McEvoy will also ensure the afternoon is a family affair with two rides for his sister-in-law Michelle Payne and one for brother-in-law Andrew.
