With the Longines Hong Kong International Races on December 11 just twenty-six days away, it will be interesting to see how the current and on-going Covid situation in this prime racing precinct impacts, if at all, on Hong Kong’s biggest race-day.
As things stand at the moment, two of the highest profile jockeys … Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman … will have to sit out the meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday as dictated under the strict Covid protocols that remain very much in place in Hong Kong
The five-time Hong Kong Premiership winner Zac Purton tested positive to Covid on Sunday morning and immediately had to forgo his rides at Happy Valley.
Hugh Bowman initially picked up four of those rides in Purton’s absence, but then Bowman himself had to stand aside after being deemed a “Covid-related close contact” … and so that roll-on effect of jockey changes has continued with Jye McNeil and Luke Currie among those named as replacement riders.
It has proved to be something of a false start for Bowman as he was due to kick off a three-month riding contract at this week’s Happy Valley meeting.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is hopeful that both Purton and Bowman will be cleared to ride at Sha Tin’s important meeting on Sunday … a meeting which features three Group 2 races, and which is an important lead-up meeting for locally trained horses as racing moves towards the Hong Kong International Races.
