SILVESTRE DE SOUSA CROWNED KING OF THE INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHALLENGE AT HAPPY VALLEY

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, December 6, 2018

The Hong Kong Jockey Club created LONGINES International Jockeys Challenge is all over for 2018 with a comprehensive win to the three-time champion of Britain Silvestre de Sousa.

Silvestre de Sousa scored points in all four legs of the LONGINES International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley last night to run out the convincing and deserved winner.

The result of the 2018 Jockeys Challenger all came down to the outcome of the final race of an electrifying night's racing.

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Ireland's Colin Keane got his Hong Kong debut off to a flying start in the first leg by making his debut ride at Happy Valley a winning one on the John Size-trained Special Stars. Drawn widest of all in barrier 12, Keane took up a position in mid-field, tracking the leaders into the straight before beginning his challenge coming off the home turn.

Special Stars responded to his vigorous riding to run down the leaders in the home straight and went away to win by a length and a quarter from De Sousa's mount Midnight Rattler.

“He was a little green early, but picked up well when I asked him, and he's a nice little horse,” said Keane.

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De Sousa fought back to go one better in the second leg.

Drawn in barrier 12 (normally a handicap at Happy Valley on the tight turning circuit), he stormed Jimmy Ting's Glory Star across the field and took up the lead and dominated the race from that position.

Javier Castellano (representing USA) flung out a challenge on Good For You, but Glory Star had been given an easy run dominating the race in front and held on for a resounding win. Keane picked up more points for third on Tony Millard's C P Power.

After the end of the second leg De Sousa led on 18 pts, Keane second on 16, and Castellano third on six.

De Sousa said of the win: “The horse is in great form, so I wanted to be positive. I let him have a breather at the 1000m mark and then got him going again.”

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Vincent Ho staked his claim for the local Hong Kong jockeys in the third leg.

He made a late run at the early leader aboard Manfred Man's Little Island and ran down the leader Curling Luxury ridden by Castellano. De Sousa managed to pick up third aboard the favourite All You Know.

“It's great to win here, and to be in this field. He travelled well – I got a little bit squeezed – but then he gave me a good kick,” said Ho.

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Anyone of the four leaders going into the last leg could win the Challenge, with de Sousa on 22 points, Keane on 16 and Ho tied with Castellano on 12, as a result of two second place finishes.

In the final event De Sousa took the championship in unequivocal style on John Moore's Experto Crede when cutting the Happy Valley corner and holding the rail to win from Ryan Moore on the John Size-trained Bank On Red.

None of his nearest rivals scored points in the last leg - so De Sousa finished clear on 34 pts with two wins and a second and third in the four legs. Keane was runner-up on 16, while Ho pipped Castellano for third.

A delighted de Sousa said: “I have to pinch myself that it all went so smoothly tonight, you can't buy moments like this. The atmosphere was amazing, and you could hear the crowd cheering behind you. Obviously, you need luck on a night like this, but to beat jockeys of the quality in this field is something really special.”

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