Emerging stars Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris have been selected to join Vincent Ho on the international stage at Ascot when the talented trio will represent Team Hong Kong in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Chau and Ferraris, two of the most gifted young riders in the world, were on Saturday announced by The Hong Kong Jockey Club at a ceremony at Sha Tin as Ho’s team-mates for the unique team-based competition which takes place on Saturday 8th August.
Ho, 36, will be competing at the esteemed jockeys’ competition for a second time, after previously helping the Rest of the World team prevail in 2019, when he won the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile aboard Power Of Darkness. He is the winner of 646 races in Hong Kong and gained widespread recognition through his association with the legendary Golden Sixty.
Vincent Ho said: “It’s a privilege to represent Team Hong Kong. It’s the first time Team Hong Kong has participated in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup; we’ll definitely do our best to represent Hong Kong. I had a really great experience at Ascot in 2019. It’s one of the best racecourses in the world.”
Chau is a product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, having graduated in 2021. The 26-year-old is fifth in the current championship and leads homegrown riders with 46 wins this season as he pursues the Tony Cruz Award as the season’s leading homegrown rider.
Chau’s first full season in the city saw him accrue a record 58 winners – the most by an apprentice in Hong Kong racing history. His biggest success came in last year’s G3 Korea Sprint with Self Improvement.
Luke Ferraris is part of South African racing royalty as the third generation of one of the country’s most distinguished horse racing families. He grew up in Hong Kong while his father, David Ferraris, trained in the city and handled Vengeance Of Rain, the 2006/07 Hong Kong Horse of the Year.
The cool-headed 24-year-old, who is ninth in the current standings locally, captured South Africa’s Triple Crown (2021) with Malmoos before returning to Hong Kong to ride full time. He has amassed 164 wins in the city since, including 34 this term.
Ferraris said: “It’s a big privilege to be part of the Hong Kong team and an honour. It’s a well-covered event that should be really interesting this year; I think there’s some good riders going, and to ride at Ascot is a big feat in itself – it looks like a lovely track. Hopefully, we can pull some nice horses and make Hong Kong proud.”
Further international additions announced today include Japanese legend Yutaka Take who returns to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for the ninth time. He has ridden four winners in his eight appearances to date, amassing 150 points which places him sixth on the all-time list. Take joins Jamie Melham and Suraj Narredu in the Rest of the World team.
The Europe team is confirmed with Christophe Lemaire, Marie Velon and rising-star Frida Valle Skar completing the outfit from the continent.
Lemaire has appeared at the competition twice before but is one of the world’s leading riders based mainly in Japan now and partners Masquerade Ball in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes two weeks before the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. Velon rode in the competition in 2024 and enjoyed her biggest career successes to date on Iresine, including two Group 1 victories. Norwegian jockey Valle Skar will be making her debut and has been impressing since basing herself in France having previously ridden in Germany where she won the German 2,000 Guineas on Matilda.
Saffie Osborne, who rode a double on her Shergar Cup debut in 2023, is confirmed for Great Britain & Ireland with the final two members of the home team to be confirmed once domestic riding plans are known.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing, Ascot Racecourse, said: “This weekend’s ceremony and announcement marks probably the most important milestone in the 25-year history of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
“To partner with the Hong Kong Jockey Club takes the competition to a new level on the world stage with the Hong Kong team set to carry their club colours and ride against the best jockeys from around the world. I am sure they will perform with distinction.
“We are also delighted to be staging the first World Pool event outside Group One parameters. This completes the portfolio of World Pool feature days at Ascot, which already includes Royal Ascot, King George Day and QIPCO British Champions Day. Having launched this global phenomenon with HKJC at Royal Ascot in 2019, this is a proud moment for us.
“I’d particularly like to thank Dubai Duty Free, our longstanding event sponsors, for their support, which has enabled us to build the competition’s global appeal and popularity over the years.”
The colours and jockeys for each team are now confirmed as:
Great Britain & Ireland – Green with white sleeves
Saffie Osborne, final two riders to be confirmed
Hong Kong Jockey Club – Blue with yellow sleeves
Vincent Ho, Jerry Chau, Luke Ferraris
Europe – Red with white sleeves
Christophe Lemaire, Marie Velon, Frida Valle Skar
Rest of the World – Yellow with white sleeves
Jamie Melham, Yutaka Take, Suraj Narredu