'TAKE 2' FOR GARY LO AS HE RETURNS TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA AFTER A YEAR HE WOULD PREFER TO FORGET

By Graham Potter | Friday, July 9, 2021

It will be ‘take 2’ for jockey Gary Lo when he makes a return to the South Australian racing scene in the near future … and it will a very important and challenging time for the rider whose career has been in limbo for the past fifteen months.

Lo spent a little over two years in Adelaide during his first stint in Australia before returning to Hong Kong to take up a riding contract there in early 2020, but be never actually got to ride in Hong Kong after the Hong Kong Jockey Club suddenly withdrew his license, only a month after it was issued and just days before Lo was due to have his first race ride.

Announcing that decision at the time, Jockey Club Executive Director Of Racing Andrew Harding said, “A pending employment-related matter has caused the club to withdraw the licence of apprentice Gary Lo. The club’s policy is not to provide comment on any employment-related matters.”

It was also reported at the time in the South China Morning Post that, ‘It is understood Lo’s conduct was not up to stringent Jockey Club standards.’

Whatever the reason … that was that!

Lo was out of contract with an uncertain future, particularly with Covid 19 restrictions limiting his options.

Ultimately, Lo has now found his way back to South Australia where he has been reunited with the Stokes training team, who he was attached to in his previous stay in Australia.

After having more than twelve months off riding (as in trackwork, trials and racing), it is expected Lo will need a good couple of weeks to shed the cobwebs and to get up to speed race fitness-wise.

When he does return to race action, as Lo is still a 3kg claimer, he should get a fair number of opportunities to make his presence felt in the South Australia riding ranks and his progress will be watched with interest.