Hong Kong Derby by the numbers: will we see a jockey win the coveted feature for the first time?

South China Morning Post

21-03-2025

Four of the top five chances in overseas fixed-odds markets will be partnered by riders chasing their maiden success in the prestigious contest
It's the feature everyone in Hong Kong racing wants to win and come Sunday afternoon, there's a very real chance a jockey will be experiencing BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) glory for the first time.
While there are six jockeys riding in Sunday's Derby that already feature on the race's honour roll, four of the top five chances in overseas fixed-odds markets will be ridden by jockeys chasing a maiden success in the coveted contest.
Part of the reason for this is the absence of the injured Zac Purton, but it speaks to the rise of Brenton Avdulla (Rubylot) and Luke Ferraris (My Wish) that they would have been aboard their mounts – the first and second favourites – whether or not the seven-time champion jockey was available.
Whether the same can be said for Ben Thompson (Bundle Award) and Andrea Atzeni (Johannes Brahms) is debatable, but what isn't is the fact that pair are red-hot chances to experience Derby euphoria for the first time this weekend.
Thompson is one of two jockeys riding in the Derby for the first time – the other, the recently arrived James Orman, will tackle Sha Tin's tricky 2,000m start under race conditions for the first time.
At the other end of the scale, Joao Moreira (Packing Angel) and Hugh Bowman (Lo Rider) chase their third victories in the city's most prestigious race.
If either is successful, they will draw level with Gerald Mosse and Douglas Whyte for wins but will still be one short of the most successful Derby rider in the professional era – four-time victor Tony Cruz.
From a training perspective, Cruz (Californiatotality and Stunning Peach) and Caspar Fownes (Lo Rider) chase their third wins, while John Size (Bundle Award, Mickley and Beauty Alliance) hunts Derby win number four. Legendary Australian handler John Moore sits out in front with six successes.
Lucky number nine?
While wide gates can be far from ideal over the Sha Tin 2,000m with its short run to the first turn, the Derby has been one 10-furlong contest where double-figure draws have not been the end of the world.
Since the Derby became a 2,000m race in the year 2000, three gallopers have won the race from the outside gate of 14, including Voyage Bubble in 2023, and Classic Mile winner My Wish will bid to become the fourth this weekend.
🏆BMW Hong Kong Derby 2023
2000m, 24.000.000 HKD, for 4yo
🇭🇰 Sha Tin
Voyage Bubble (AUS)
(4G Deep Field - Raheights, by Rahy)
J :A. Badel
T :P.-F. Yiu
O :Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate
🥈 Tuchel(Redwood)
🥉 Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) pic.twitter.com/HFwHsPUt3d — 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 (@WorldRacing1) March 19, 2023
Gates three and 10 have been the most prolific in the past 25 years, each producing four winners – a trend connections of Mickley and Markwin will hope continues on Sunday.
Lo Rider (gate one) and Beauty Alliance (five) are the gallopers needing to create history to win – no horse has won the Derby from either of those alleys since 2000.
Gate nine has also produced three winners since 2000 and it's a barrier that gives Thompson a good feeling.
'It's funny, on the way over I said to my wife Steph that I just want a number that feels lucky and my brother's born on the 9th, so hopefully that brings us some luck,' said Bundle Award's jockey.
Can a Private Purchase stand up again?
Once the domain of the Private Purchase (previously raced horse), the previously unraced galloper has very much come to the fore in the Derby in recent years.
While 15 of this century's first 20 Derby winners began their careers elsewhere, the four winners from 2020 to 2023 – Golden Sixty, Sky Darci, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble – were all unraced when they came to Hong Kong.
Phenomenal win! 🤯
While we're reflecting on 2024, just how GOOD were Massive Sovereign and @zpurton in March's @BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/e34fUbj0Zx — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 31, 2024
Massive Sovereign ended that run last year, winning the Derby after beginning his career under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien in Ireland.
This year it is an even seven-seven split between horses who raced before coming to Hong Kong and those who didn't, although the top two in the market – Rubylot and My Wish – are Private Purchase Griffins (previously unraced horses).