Four Overseas Jockeys Set to Grace Hong Kong for December International Races
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Four elite international jockeys have been granted visiting licenses to compete in Hong Kong, with arrangements for Sophie O'Sullivan, Maxime Guyon, Ben Coen, and Robbie Dolan to arrive in stages from November through February. Their participation will coincide with the prestigious Longines Hong Kong International Races series, highlighted by the Longines Hong Kong International Jockey Championship on December 9 at Happy Valley. Andrew Harding, Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, emphasized that this star-studded lineup reflects Hong Kong's esteemed position in the global racing community .
Key Points
- Sophie O'Sullivan, a 24-year-old British rider and daughter of trainer Jamie Osborne, will be the first to arrive on November 8, 2026, and recently became the first female jockey to win a British Classic Race by capturing the 250th St Leger with Highland Admiral trained by Roger Varian .
- Maxime Guyon, a 42-year-old French superstar with nearly 3,400 career wins including 58 Group 1 victories, will ride from December 2, 2026 to February 8, 2027, having won the Hong Kong Vase three times with Frontrung (2014), Zelazny (2017), and Search for Song (2021) .
- Robbie Dolan, 26, the 2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning jockey, will compete from December 2, 2026 to February 28, 2027, with five Group 1 wins including the July Cup, Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and Prix de la Foret, boasting a 15% win rate from 1,201 career victories .
- Ben Coen, a 23-year-old Irish champion jockey from Donegal, will make his Hong Kong return from January 6 to February 28, 2027, after winning ten races during his previous stint last season .
- All four jockeys are members of the British and Irish team that defeated Hong Kong at this year's Shergar Cup at Ascot, with O'Sullivan and Coen contributing to that victory .
Why It Matters
This deployment of world-class jockeys significantly elevates the competitive standards and entertainment value of Hong Kong's racing product during its peak season . The influx of international talent reinforces Hong Kong's status as a premier destination for elite equestrian sports, while providing local racing fans with unprecedented opportunities to witness jockeys of the highest caliber competing at Sha Tin and Happy Valley .
This deployment of world-class jockeys significantly elevates the competitive standards and entertainment value of Hong Kong's racing product during its peak season . The influx of international talent reinforces Hong Kong's status as a premier destination for elite equestrian sports, while providing local racing fans with unprecedented opportunities to witness jockeys of the highest caliber competing at Sha Tin and Happy Valley .