Hong Kong jockey Lyle Hewitson is gearing up for a promising start to the season as he prepares to reunite with the talented horse, One For All, at Happy Valley’s first fixture of the year.
This event marks the commencement of the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge, running until February 21, 2024, exclusively for Class 3 and above horses, with points awarded for top-four finishes.
Hewitson expressed his optimism, saying, “Hopefully we can get a bit of beginner’s luck and get Mark (Newnham) off to a great start.
“He’s a lovely horse and he has stepped up in grade now, but with the weight relief that should be in his favour.”
One For All, under the tutelage of trainer Mark Newnham, seeks to secure a victory in his Hong Kong debut.
However, he faces stiff competition from the likes of Reward Smile, Superb Capitalist, Allgreektome, Packing Bole, and more.
Hewitson acknowledged the challenge, especially with several noted frontrunners, stating, “That’s the unfortunate thing (possible fast pace), to start off in this sort of field makes it a bit more difficult.
“He’s a horse that’s shown good gate speed and a lot of speed, so the plan will still be to pop out and press on for the first half furlong.”
In addition to One For All, Hewitson has seven mounts for the event, including Goodmanship, Durham Star, Snowalot, High Percentage, Eighteen Palms, and G One Excellent.
He noted, “Eighteen Palms is also in good form and he will have come on with the season under his belt. That actually looks like a very competitive race with three or four others that are in good form at the moment but he’d be a livewire.
“I think Snowalot just continues a good vein of form.”
Another notable contender, Pachisi, trained by Jamie Richards, faces a challenging task from an outside barrier.
Richards mentioned, “We’re going to need a bit of luck and I’m expecting him to find the line well but when you struggle to draw a gate it makes it very tough for him.”
The upcoming season carries high expectations, as trainers and jockeys like Richards aim to build on their previous successes. Despite the challenges posed by factors like weather, the Hong Kong racing scene remains vibrant and competitive.
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