Richard Kingscote returns, Ben Thompson departs and Tony Cruz gets an extension
Kingscote is the only addition to a riding cohort that will lose Antoine Hamelin, who returns to France at the end of this term after five years in Hong Kong, the retiring Alfred Chan Ka-hei and Ben Thompson, who has opted to head back to Australia after nearly 18 months in the city.
A multiple Group One winner in his home country and Ireland, Englishman Kingscote booted home four winners – headlined by a dirt treble at Sha Tin on March 26 – during a six-week stint as injury cover earlier this year.
Thompson has ridden 15 winners during his time in Hong Kong but has struggled in recent months, with the 27-year-old heading to Sha Tin on Saturday in the midst of a 71-ride drought dating back to April.
THREE FROM THREE! 🔥@RKingscote caps a treble from only three rides tonight at Sha Tin as debutant Rising Force dazzles for Ricky Yiu... @AtTheRaces | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/7rECLjsKyD — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025
All jockeys have been handed a full-season licence except for Kingscote, Keagan de Melo and James Orman, who are contracted until February 17.
The only changes to the trainers' roster for next season have already been confirmed, with South African handler Brett Crawford the new addition and veteran Benno Yung Tin-pang calling an end to his 12-year career.
Crawford has been on the ground at Sha Tin and meeting owners in recent weeks. The 53-year-old officially starts training in Hong Kong on July 17, the day after the current season ends.
The licensing committee confirmed Cruz, 68, is eligible for an extension beyond the conclusion of the 2026-27 racing season, during which he will turn 70, until the conclusion of the 2029-30 racing season 'provided he continues to satisfy the benchmarks set down by the club'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China savours 8-ball pool, snooker and climbing gold at World Games
Cue sports and climbing maintained China's dominant showing at the World Games as further golds were added to the host nation's tally on Thursday. Zhang Taiyi made history in Chengdu when he became the Games' first mixed heyball pool champion. Fellow cueist Xiao Guodong overcame Michael Georgiou 2-1 for snooker gold. Sport climbing's Deng Lijuan, an Olympic silver medallist last year, won a close all-Chinese women's speed single final against Qin Yumei. In the men's speed single final, the 18-year-old Chu Shouhong took gold by beating the United States' Olympic bronze medallist Sam Watson. Heyball, also known as Chinese 8-ball, was making its Games debut, and Zhang, 23, treated the locals to more home success with a 5-3 victory in the final over 42-year-old Jason Theron of South Africa. Chu Shouhong competes in the speed single climbing event in Chengdu. Photo: Xinhua Xiao, snooker's world No 13, then held his nerve to prevail in a last-frame decider against Cyprus's Georgiou.
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cycling's Vincent Lau ready to be National Games leader after coach demand
As someone who performs the grunt work for his professional team, Vincent Lau Wan-yau has needed a seismic mindset shift to become the spearhead of Hong Kong's National Games road cycling glory bid. Lau, a 2022 Asian Games medallist and Paris 2024 Olympian, is a domestique for Roojai Insurance, the Thai team he joined last year. 'I transport bidons [water bottles] to my teammates [from team car], help control the peloton, and spend time at the front to do lead outs and take the wind,' Lau said. 'It's giving me more experience. We have to make the race; be aggressive and attentive. With Hong Kong, we're not so [prominent] in races.' After Lau recently relinquished his Hong Kong time trial title to Chu Tsun-wai, head coach Herve Dagorne said: 'I don't see the anger in him, sometimes, I want to see more willing'. Vincent Lau (left) celebrates after finishing second in a recent Brisbane road race. Photo: CAHK The characteristically reserved Lau said Dagorne 'wants me to race more aggressively and, sometimes, be more vocal'.
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Cristiano Ronaldo in Hong Kong: fans greet superstar's arrival at hotel
Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Hong Kong on Thursday, sparking excitement as fans vied to catch a glimpse of the football superstar. A crowd gathered at the Regent Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui during the morning after word spread of the Portuguese's rumoured arrival ahead of next week's Saudi Super Cup, which is being staged in the city. They were rewarded shortly before 3pm local time when Ronaldo – who last month opened a museum in Hong Kong chronicling his career – arrived with his teammates from Saudi club Al-Nassr on their team bus. Emerging from the bus to cheers, Ronaldo was ushered past fans and quickly into the hotel, while his fellow players stopped to retrieve their bags. Play The Regent is a stone's throw away from Ronaldo's CR7 Life Museum in the K11 Musea shopping centre.
