Team Hong Kong is new to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup this year, which will be staged at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, August 8.
Heading the Hong Kong Jockey Club team of Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris, the 36-year-old Vincent Ho said: “It’s the first time Team Hong Kong has participated in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
“It’s a privilege to represent Team Hong Kong and we’ll definitely do our best to represent Hong Kong. I had a great experience at Ascot in 2019 and it’s one of the best racecourses in the world.”
Competing at the Shergar Cup for the second time since 2019 when he was a member of the Rest of the World team, he won the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile on Power Of Darkness.
Now the winner of 646 races in Hong Kong, Vincent Ho has gained widespread recognition through his association with the legendary Golden Sixty, the triple Hong Kong Horse of the Year.
Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris are two of the most gifted young riders in the world and were announced by The Hong Kong Jockey Club at Sha Tin as Vincent Ho’s teammates for the Ascot event.
The 26-year-old Jerry Chau is a product of the HKJC’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School and today sits fifth on the championship. He received the Tony Cruz Award and leads the home-grown riders on 46 wins.
Jerry Chau’s first full season saw him accrue a record 58 winners – the most by an apprentice in Hong Kong’s history. His biggest success came in last year’s Korea Sprint with Self Improvement.
The cool-headed Luke Ferraris went on to state: “It’s a big privilege to be part of the Hong Kong team and an honour. It’s a well-covered event that should be really interesting this year.
“I think there’s some good riders going, and to ride at Ascot is a big feat in itself – it looks like a lovely track. Hopefully, we can pull some nice horses and make Hong Kong proud.”
Currently ninth on the Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership, Luke captured the South African Triple Crown in 2021 on Malmoos and, since returning to Hong Kong, now has 164 wins including 34 this season.
Luke Ferraris is a third-generation member of a South African racing family and, growing up in Hong Kong, his father David Ferraris trained Vengeance Of Rain to be the 2006-07 Hong Kong Horse of the Year.
As Ferraris said: “It’s a big privilege to be part of the Hong Kong team and an honour. It’s a well-covered event that should be really interesting this year.
“I think there’s some good riders going, and to ride at Ascot is a big feat in itself – it looks like a lovely track. Hopefully, we can pull some nice horses and make Hong Kong proud.”
In addition, the Japanese legend Yutaka Take returns for a ninth Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and is joined by Jamie Melham and Suraj Narredu in the Rest of the World team.
The Europe team comprises Japan-based Frenchman Christophe Lemaire, who has competed twice before, Marie Velon from France, who rode in 2024, and Norwegian rising star Frida Valle Skar.
Saffie Osborne, who rode a double on her debut in 2023, is confirmed for Great Britain & Ireland, with the final two members of the team to be confirmed once domestic riding plans are known.
“This weekend marks probably the most important milestone in the 25-year history of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup,” said Nick Smith, Director of Racing, Ascot Racecourse.
“To partner with the Hong Kong Jockey Club takes the competition to a new level on the world stage with the Hong Kong team set to carry their club colours and ride against the best jockeys from around the world. I am sure they will perform with distinction.”
