VINCENT HO READY TO CLAIM A PERSONAL BEST

By Hong Kong Jockey Club (Declan Schuster) | Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Vincent Ho is one of Hong Kong racing’s biggest names and at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (26 April) the local ace can reach a new personal best.

Ho has ridden 513 winners across his career in Hong Kong and racked up a swag of Group 1 triumphs aboard Golden Sixty, Loves Only You, Southern Legend and Stronger. With 67 wins in the bag this season, the 32-year-old has already equalled his previous best set in 2019/20 and is currently on track to smash that figure out of the park across the remaining 24 fixtures.

The quiet achieving Ho has ridden 50 or more winners in each of his last five seasons and insists he is taking it one race at a time: “I’m just doing my best on every horse – that’s it.”

Buoyed by his famed association with Golden Sixty, which will see Hong Kong’s champion chase a record third straight HK$20 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) this Sunday (30 April) at Sha Tin, Ho’s five chances at the midweek fixture are Circuit Elite, Scotch Tycoon, Win Win Fighter, Majestic Victory and Jumbo Fortune.

Scotch Tycoon lines up in the first section of the Class 4 Daejeon Handicap (1200m) for trainer Francis Lui. The Rich Enuff gelding’s last run in the grade returned victory in 2022.

“I think it is better, Class 4, it’s still not easy to carry the big weight because he isn’t really a big horse. He has the ability, for sure, I think he’ll still have a chance,” Ho said.

Majestic Victory was initially a standby starter but gained promotion to run in the Class 3 Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1800m) for trainer Tony Cruz following the withdrawal of Turin Mascot. The Excelebration gelding steps away from barrier 11 of 12.

“He’s doing well but this won’t be easy, I’ll just do my best and we’ll see how the race pans out. If we get lucky we can slot in somewhere, which will be good,” Ho said.

Jumbo Fortune caught the eye at the tail of the field last start and lines up in the Class 3 Incheon Handicap (1200m) in a bid to capture a first Hong Kong win at his 14th attempt.

“He’s a nice horse, sometimes he just thinks too much. Hopefully we can fix that but sometimes they just need time to mature up mentally, they need some time and patience,” Ho said.

The chestnut by Pride Of Dubai has shown ability across his short career with several close-up finishes in Class 2 and Class 3.

Vincent Ho