By Alan Carasso
Fresh off his sweep of the Triple Crown and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with certain US Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), jockey Victor Espinoza faces a different sort of challenge Wednesday night at Hong Kong's Happy Valley Racecourse, as he squares off with 11 of the finest reinsmen in the world in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship. It will be Espinoza's second look at the unique city course. During his lone previous appearance at the event, Espinoza booted home a winner and, but for rival Damien Oliver scraping home fifth in the final of the three legs, Espinoza would have emerged victorious. A veteran of a single Classic victory (War Emblem) at that stage of his career, the Mexico City native–the 11th of 12 children–enters the IJC having partnered the winner of five of the six most recent winners of Triple Crown races. It is an accomplishment not lost on him.
“Amazing,” was Espinoza's humble one-word retort when asked to reflect on the last couple of seasons. “There aren't many jockeys in the world that have had the chances I have. To be able to win five Triple Crown races out of the last six is truly phenomenal. To win those races two years in a row, it's taken a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication, but there has also been a lot of pressure, because when I am in that position, I just don't want to make any wrong moves. One little mistake can cost you the race and it's tough to be the target. For that reason, you have to be 100% ready physically and mentally. It's not easy to ride the best horse in the race. Everyone wants to try to find your weakness. When it comes to big races, I always try to be ready and be prepared and try to get the job done.”
To be a factor in this year's IJC, he'll need to bring his very best against the world's best. Ryan Moore (England) is ever dangerous in this competition, having won it all on two occasions, and despite a serious injury that robbed him of a good chunk of the 2015 season, still managed to finish joint-second in Longines' World's Best Jockey competition, a title he earned in 2014. Australia is represented by a pair of its leading lights in the form of Hugh Bowman, who landed this year's G1 Cox Plate atop Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), and young Kiwi sensation James McDonald, the number one rider for trainer John O'Shea and Godolphin in the country. Keita Tosaki (Japan) looks to have a couple of live chances in the International Races Sunday afternoon and makes his first IJC appearance, as does Silvestre de Sousa, England's leading rider of 2015, who flies in from the US. Maxime Guyon (France) is no stranger to the Hong Kong faithful, having won the Derby atop fan favorite Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) a few years back, while Gavin Lerena (South Africa) represents his nation for the first time.
Hong Kong fields a fearsome foursome, led by the irrepressible Joao Moreira, who is well ahead of his record-setting pace from the 2014/2015 season. He is joined by Douglas Whyte, who topped the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership 13 straight years from 2000-2013 and is a three-time IJC winner; Brett Prebble, one of three riders to record six winners on a single program around the tricky Happy Valley circuit; and the up-and-coming Derek Leung, the leading 'homegrown' jockey.
“It's my home, but I'm facing some of the best riders in the world,” said Moreira, Hong Kong's record setting and current leading jockey. “We [Hong Kong-based jockeys] know we can win but we can get beaten as well. We are so used to the horses here, we know how they like to race and run. We have the advantage of being able to place the horse where they like to be, but these riders can pull tricks out of their hat that you've never seen before. It's so much fun. It's inspiring. We know we have to step up our game.”
Given that depth of talent, Espinoza is relishing this opportunity.
“I am really looking forward to the jockeys' championship. It's going to be a great challenge. I want to make the most of the chance, because who knows if I'll ever get the chance again. So, I'm here to do my best. I am looking forward to participating against these great riders. It will be a great challenge and I think these jockeys are even tougher than it was the last time.”
The IJC will take place over four races (4, 5, 7 and 8), a trio of Class 4 handicaps and one at Class 3 level. Espinoza's best shot would appear to be in the final leg aboard Foodie (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), a last-out winner over the course and 1650-meter trip for Moreira Oct. 22. The rider who accumulates the most points over the four events takes home a check for HK$500,000.
First post for the Wednesday card is 5:30 a.m. ET, with the first of the IJC races slated for 7:10 a.m. ET. All races are shown live on TVG.
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