Monday, 12 January 2009

Veteran jockey Shane Dye has been granted a licence to return to Hong Kong and ride in major races over the next three months, including the Hong Kong Derby.

Dye had a very successful time in Hong Kong previously, managing to finish second in the jockeys’ premiership twice behind Douglas Whyte.

Dye’s stint in Hong Kong will commence next Sunday with a booking to ride Vigor Delight in a lead-up event to the Hong Kong Derby.

Vigor Delight formerly raced in Australia in the care of Chris Waller under the name Prince de Galles with the son of Anabaa performing creditably against the top three-year-olds last autumn, running third in the Tulloch Stakes and finishing on the heels of the placegetters in the AJC Derby.

The four-year-old has had two runs in Hong Kong, getting home well to finish midfield first-up over a mile at Sha Tin on November 16, prior to an average effort when down the track on December 14.

Vigor Delight now trained by Caspar Fownes for whom Dye will riding predominantly.

"He has a horse that is being set for the Hong Kong Derby, so I'll ride it next week and then go back for a big meeting in February and then again in March when the derby is on,” Dye told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Vigor Delight has only had a couple of runs over in Hong Kong and he is a nice horse that is being set for the derby.

"I've ridden for the horse's owner with success before, so hopefully that will continue."