The Hong Kong Jockey Club has granted an extension of licence to visiting Jockey James Orman for the period from 3 April 2025 up to the conclusion of the current 2024/2025 racing season.
That might be just a simple one sentence media release by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, but it presents an enormous opportunity for Queensland’s multiple Premiership winning jockey to further his cause in one of racing’s toughest racing precincts where he has already gained some early success since taking up an initial six-week riding licence in late February.
Turning a six-week stint into an end of season extension is already a well-earned, huge victory for Orman … and make no mistake, Hong Kong provides a riding scenario where everything has to be earned from the moment you arrive at the entry level throughout any move up the ladder.
Importantly, Orman rode his first winner in only his fourth start in Hong Kong, saluting aboard Charming Babe at Happy Valley on February 26. It was Orman’s only ride that night, so the win was a statement in itself, not to mention the huge thrill and confidence booster it provided for Orman.
At the next meeting on March 3, just two rides later, Orman landed his first win at Sha Tin aboard Concentration, a victory which, at the time, meant that Orman had ridden two winners from his first six starts in Hong Kong, which must go close to being as good an introduction to the Hong Kong riding scene as anyone has had.
Both of Orman’s wins came on Ricky Yiu trained horses.
It called getting your foot in the door and it is easier said than done.
It is still going to be a slog for the new boy on the block, but the signs are good moving forward as the licence extension now allows Orman the means to be able to build relationships with owners, trainers and horses on a longer-term basis … an advantage that didn’t apply with his short-term riding licence. That factor, in itself, can open doors.
It might be cliche to say that Orman is living the dream … but it is true, and, in the first instance, the opportunity came out of the blue.
Who knew that when there was a fall at Sha Tin on February 9, in which a couple of jockeys suffered injuries that would keep then out of action for some time, it would lead to a life-changing moment for Orman who, on that Sunday, was just getting on with business-as-usual riding a winner at the Sunshine Coast.
A call-up to Hong Kong would have been the furthest thing from his mind.
But then, not long after that, the phone rang and the rest, s they say, is history!
