Australian jockey James Orman has credited Douglas Whyte and Ricky Yiu Poon-fai with helping him land his first Hong Kong winner at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Brought to the city for six weeks as injury cover, the 27-year-old struck on his fourth ride when booting home $26 chance Charming Babe for Yiu in the second section of the Class Four Wang Tak Handicap (1,200m).
“If you had have asked me last year where I’d be right now, I wouldn’t think it would be at Happy Valley riding my first winner here because this sort of came up out of the blue,” Orman said.
“It was unfortunate circumstances for those jockeys who fell, but I was lucky enough to get this opportunity and lucky enough to get a winner here at my second meeting at Happy Valley.
James Orman is a winner in Hong Kong! 🙌
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 26, 2025
The Australian teams with Ricky Yiu as Charming Babe overhauls rivals at Happy Valley... @JimmyOrman #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/rAHEB3eODy
“I must thank Ricky Yiu and his team for giving me the opportunity because I arrived here with pretty much no contacts and they were the first people to give me a trackwork ride and they entrusted me today on this horse.”
Facing a task from gate 11, Orman settled Charming Babe wide but with cover just behind midfield before the former Australian galloper unleashed a strong turn of foot in the final 100m.
Charming Babe gunned down Good Prospect to win by three-quarters of a length and bag his first Hong Kong victory at start seven, adding the success to his Doomben triumph when known as Golden Image pre-import.
“We drew bad, but [Yiu] said Happy Valley is a track to go forward on,” Orman said.
Charming Babe storms home down the outside under James Orman.
“We went forward and I got a bit of cover – I did sit a little wide which wasn’t helpful, but we had cover and I was able to peel off their backs and I was the last one standing.
“He hangs in but he did that in Australia, too. I remember this horse in Australia when Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted had him and he’s always hung in a little bit like that, so I was always expecting it.”
Orman also heeded the advice of trainer Whyte, one of Hong Kong’s most successful jockeys.
“I spoke to Douglas Whyte on Tuesday morning and I’m not sure if he knew he gave me a good tip, but he said to me ‘Happy Valley is a track you need momentum’ and I was able to build that momentum,” Orman said.
Jockey James Orman with trainer Ricky Yiu (third from right) and Charming Babe’s connections.
“So that was a really good pointer from Douglas Whyte. I feel like I know how to ride this track now.”
Orman, who has ridden more than 1,300 winners and won three straight metropolitan premierships in Brisbane, was in awe after celebrating his first win at the iconic city circuit.
“This is the best atmosphere I’ve ridden on at a racecourse,” he said.
“You’ve got the high rises all around. Coming into the track, you wouldn’t think it’s a racecourse here. The crowd’s electric and I must say it’s a big buzz being here and very ecstatic to get a winner.”
