Harry Bentley revved up for fast start to a fresh challenge in Hong Kong

Back in the 1970s when professional racing was in its infancy in Hong Kong, one local racing writer described Lester Piggott as an “old man, who didn’t have the strength of a sick housefly,” and therefore a jockey that his readers should avoid at all costs.

All visiting riders are fair game in the Chinese press – there are currently up to 20 newspapers, all with varying degrees of expertise in their racing coverage – and reputations and achievements elsewhere mean little.

To say that local scribes take no prisoners is an understatement. They can be brutal. Never mind the horrors a jockey encounters on social media in Britain, the Hong Kong racing critic is scathing, and with a readership that usually includes owners, those views have an impact.

Of course, Lester went on to win two more Derbys at Epsom and picked up a further two jockeys’ titles following the attack on him in the Chinese press – he was also only in his early forties – but it made no difference to the writer, who felt obliged to vent his criticism in print after being unimpressed by the legendary jockey.

First impressions are lasting in Hong Kong, which is why Harry Bentley can feel satisfied that his introduction to the local scene last April was a success. That initial taste of a vastly different racing environment – plus a four-week break in France since to freshen up – has left him eagerly anticipating the start of the new Hong Kong season, which kicks off at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Bentley, the only Briton among 23 names on this year’s list of riders, is in his 12th year as a jockey, and entering the most fascinating phase of his international career.

“You feel like you are starting out again when you come to Hong Kong. Effectively, everything I have done in Europe and the Middle East, you can put a line through. You come here almost unknown,” he points out.

Bentley was riding in Dubai when he received the offer “out of the blue” to come to Hong Kong. “I had nothing holding me back. I had parted company with Ralph Beckett back home and after giving the offer some thought, and asking around, it just seemed right to give it a go.

“At 29, I think I’m the perfect age. I’ve got enough experience behind me, yet I’m not too old,” he adds.

He rode his first Hong Kong winner on only his second day’s racing – Vincy for Douglas Whyte at Happy Valley on April 21 – which made many sit up and take notice as Vincy had been a source of frustration.

“It was my first ride at Happy Valley. I got there early, I walked the course, and tried to take in as much as possible. Winning that first race boosts your confidence and shows people that you are capable,” he says.

Harry Bentley drives Antonia De Vega home to land the Princess Royal Muhaarar Stakes at Newmarket last seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bentley finished his three-month stint with five winners from 134 rides (3.73 per cent winners) which, it must be said, is far better than it appears on paper.

“To those looking in from outside, if you don’t know anything about Hong Kong racing, five winners sounds quite poor, really, but I was pleased. I arrived late in the season. I had no contacts. I was clueless, really. When you come into it so late, it’s difficult to gain any momentum.

“It’s also a little frustrating when you come here from places where you are banging in winners all the time but every aspect of Hong Kong is ultra-competitive.”

That can clearly be seen by statistics. From 835 races last season, champion Joao Moreira (157 winners) and his arch-rival Zac Purton (125) rode 33.77 per cent of all winners between them, which doesn’t leave a great deal. “Especially when they can ride pretty much anything they like,” Bentley says.

“It makes it incredibly hard for the rest of us, but it’s just the nature of the game. Wherever you go, there is always going to be one who dominates and gets the lion’s share. It makes for a tough environment when you have two such dominant rivals,” he adds.

Joao Moreira, who along with arch-rival Zac Purton, dominates the Hong Kong jockeys' championship, lands the 2019 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Glory VaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

From soon after his arrival, Bentley received great support from trainer Ricky Yiu, a new acquaintance who supplied him with a notable Class 1 winner in Preciousship, who landed the £300,000 Sha Tin Mile Trophy on July 11. He also won on sprinter Resolute at Happy Valley for South African trainer Tony Millard at the last meeting of the season on July 14.

Bentley says he has not changed his riding style but is concentrating on getting his mounts away quickly from the stalls.

“Gate speed is so valuable here. You need it to get a position. If you just fall out and let your horse find his feet in his own time you’ve missed the boat. I’m adapting to that,” he says.

He flags up other unique local features requiring priority, such as networking with owners and trainers as jockeys’ agents are outlawed in Hong Kong; the constant study of form and videos of races and barrier trials – “I live on the HKJC website” – and getting his head around Speed Maps, an Australian concept that involves predicting the positions of horses in running and the pace at which they will travel.

Bentley is enjoying Hong Kong and looking forward to a successful new season. His ambitions? “My aim is to ride as many winners as possible, not to set specific targets. I would like to establish something I can work on.

“Hopefully, Hong Kong can be a long-term fixture for me.” Early indications are that it will be.

Don’t miss Jim McGrath’s tips for Sunday’s opening day of the Hong Kong season and throughout the year for midweek racing at Happy Valley and weekends at Sha Tin.

Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes.

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