Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu is looking to hit the ground running as she makes her long-awaited Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin on Wednesday with a book of five rides, including a trio for her boss Ricky Yiu Poon-fai.
The 25-year-old has spent the last five years honing her craft overseas, riding 61 winners in Australia, 10 in New Zealand and a further seven in South Africa, but all of that has just been a prelude to her rides in Hong Kong.
There will undoubtedly be some nerves as she has her first races rides at Sha Tin, which will be under the floodlights for an all-dirt card, but Yuen is hoping she can soak up the pressure and get on the board early.
“I’m really excited to finally have the opportunity to ride on the biggest stage in the world,” Yuen said. “This is really huge for me, to be riding with all the best jockeys in the world, on such a big stage with great horses.
“There has got to be some pressure, but I just have to learn how to deal with it and not let it get into my head and disturb my performance.
“It’s been pretty smooth [getting back into the Hong Kong routine], because I had been doing this [trackwork] for a long time before I went overseas, but the special thing is coming back now as an apprentice and not a trainee.”
Perhaps Yuen’s biggest chance of the evening is Dragon Air Force, who looks for a fourth win on his favourite all-weather surface in the Class Three Choi Wan Handicap (1,650m).
He surged home for a win over course and distance three starts ago and only missed by half a length on his next start, before turning in a below-par 11th on a day where it was difficult to make ground from the rear.
Drawing well in barrier four, Yuen is looking to use his smart finishing kick in a bid to overhaul the leaders in the closing stages.
“Dragon Air Force has a really good extension from behind. I’m really lucky to have a horse from behind, not just in front, so hopefully the horse can run well for me,” Yuen said.
All of Yuen’s rides on Wednesday are for local trainers, including Yiu, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen and Dennis Yip Chor-hong, and although she is hoping to get some rides for the expats in due course, she believes her 10lb claim will make her a real asset.
“I want to say thank you to all the local trainers for giving me opportunities – hopefully I can ride winners for them and the overseas trainers too,” Yuen said.
“It’s a really great plus and is a massive help for me, especially to have more rides as trainers are keen to use it.”
Double Bingo, PI Legend, Tourbillon Golfer and Fun N Fun Together round out Yuen’s opening night rides.
