Trainer Danny Shum believes French jockey Alexis Badel may have a long-term future in Hong Kong after Speedy Longwah (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) took the Class 2 Choi Wan Handicap (1650m), thwarting a number of Hong Kong Classic Mile hopes, at Happy Valley tonight (Wednesday, 11 January).
Badel won the second race of his short Hong Kong stint, which began on 11 December, and his first at Happy Valley aboard last season's Happy Valley Million Challenge winner Speedy Longwah. The rider confirmed post-race that he was hoping to base himself at Sha Tin into next month.
"At the moment, I am able to ride until the end of January but I am hoping I can continue until the end of February," Badel said. "I think I understand how it all works a lot better now, and now I can try to improve. I am getting good opportunities from trainers like Danny so I want to stay here."
Shum, who also provided Badel with his first Hong Kong winner, Supreme Profit at Sha Tin on 27 December, said the jockey should look to continue his riding career in Hong Kong, having been a fan of what he has seen from the 26-year-old to date.
"He should stay!" Shum stated. "And not just for one more month but for the rest of the season, all the time! The horse tonight travelled for him so strongly and he got him there. It was some effort.
"The horse had an irregular heartbeat last time, but he's a Happy Valley specialist, he won the series last year and he's at his best back here."
Badel added: "I watched every race of his and I saw that he loves Happy Valley, which is very important. I had a good draw, which helped, and in the mornings, he had given me a great feeling so I went in a little bit confident."
The Happy Valley Million Challenge rewards horses who consistently perform in Class 3 or above at the city track between September and February. This season's Happy Valley Million Challenge may be out of reach for Speedy Longwah with two more races available to him, a Class 2 over 1650m on 25 January and a Class 1 over 1650m on 15 February – the night that the series concludes. -HKJC
Badel won the second race of his short Hong Kong stint, which began on 11 December, and his first at Happy Valley aboard last season's Happy Valley Million Challenge winner Speedy Longwah. The rider confirmed post-race that he was hoping to base himself at Sha Tin into next month.
"At the moment, I am able to ride until the end of January but I am hoping I can continue until the end of February," Badel said. "I think I understand how it all works a lot better now, and now I can try to improve. I am getting good opportunities from trainers like Danny so I want to stay here."
Shum, who also provided Badel with his first Hong Kong winner, Supreme Profit at Sha Tin on 27 December, said the jockey should look to continue his riding career in Hong Kong, having been a fan of what he has seen from the 26-year-old to date.
"He should stay!" Shum stated. "And not just for one more month but for the rest of the season, all the time! The horse tonight travelled for him so strongly and he got him there. It was some effort.
"The horse had an irregular heartbeat last time, but he's a Happy Valley specialist, he won the series last year and he's at his best back here."
Badel added: "I watched every race of his and I saw that he loves Happy Valley, which is very important. I had a good draw, which helped, and in the mornings, he had given me a great feeling so I went in a little bit confident."
The Happy Valley Million Challenge rewards horses who consistently perform in Class 3 or above at the city track between September and February. This season's Happy Valley Million Challenge may be out of reach for Speedy Longwah with two more races available to him, a Class 2 over 1650m on 25 January and a Class 1 over 1650m on 15 February – the night that the series concludes. -HKJC