Page 152 - MAjestic v7

INSIDER
The Pursuit覃以立身 勇者无惧
of Dreams
“CHC中国梦计划”骑师覃勇在澳大利亚接受了一年的骑师培训后，不止成功成为第一位获得专业
见习骑师资格的中国大陆骑师，更首次在赛马发达国家取得中国大陆骑师的首冠，实现零的突破！
CHC China Dream Project inductee Qin Yong has
spent a year in Australia learning about its racing secured another victory in Canberra, he has won a total
and breeding industries. The accomplished
jockey was the first Chinese representative to be accepted
into the internationally recognised RSW Apprentice
School, and he created history to become the first
Mainland Chinese rider to have won a thoroughbred race
in Australia.
8 April 2018 was a momentous day in Chinese
horseracing when Qin Yong rode Azzie’s Ready to
victory in the Benchmark 65 Showcase Handicap
(900m) at the iconic Wellington Boot race meeting in
central New South Wales, Australia. It was the first
time a jockey from Mainland China has raced and won
a thoroughbred race in Australia. Qin Yong shot to the
lead early in a field of nine runners. He succeeded in
maintaining this position in the first 500m but, as he
headed for the final turn, there was a sharp burst of
speed from his opponents. Sky Mission charged up to
the front but Azzie’s Ready powered through to win by
one-and-a-half lengths.
Qin Yong said after his ride: “This is really, really
incredible for me. This is one of the great memories
of my life and riding career. I’m thankful to get the
ride and I’m so happy. I just followed instructions and
did what I was meant to.” Qin Yong’s historic win has
also attracted the attention of the media and industry
figures in China, who have been quick to extend him
their best wishes.
150 MAjestic
文 / 董天乐 BY EDDIE DONG
Only two weeks after his historical win, Qin Yong
of seven races in only 45 rides (at the time of printing)
and is now eligible to ride in Sydney (Australia), one of
the most competitive racing centres in the world.
BREAKTHROUGH WIN
Qin Yong has, undoubtedly, put China’s racing industry on
the global stage, but Chinese jockeys still have a long road
ahead to achieving recognition in international racing. Qin
Yong has to win at least 240 races (including 80 victories in
each of the three categories of races ) after he receiving his
international jockey license before embarking on an ‘free’
racing career as a professional jockey. The three categories
are metropolitan, provincial and other race meetings before
progressing to top-level races.
Qin Yong’s historic win in Australia is greatly significant
for Chinese horseracing. Although horseracing is a young
industry in China and, as such, does not enjoy the enormous
popularity of sports like the NBA and the English Premier
League, which have been heavily influenced by the success
of local stars on the international stage, Qin Yong’s feat
offers a glimpse of horseracing’s future as a force in Chinese
sports, much like how Olympic gold medallist hurdler Liu
Xiang broke world records and paved the way for the 110m
hurdles in China. Horseracing as a sport, its history, appeal,
and track atmosphere and rules, for example, are similar to
that of football and track and field, and, as such, horseracing
can emulate them in growing itself commercially and in
influence.