HARRY BENTLEY TEAMS UP WITH FAMILIAR FACE TO CHASE CHAIRMAN’S SPRINT PRIZE GLORY ON TALENTED FILLY BELIEVING
- British jockey's connection with countryman leads to first Group One ride on Champions Day
Harry Bentley is excited to be teaming up with fellow Briton George Boughey for his first Group One ride on Champions Day aboard talented filly Believing in Sunday's Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) at Sha Tin.
Based in Hong Kong full-time since 2021, Bentley has yet to feature in the three Group Ones on one of the city's biggest race days but gets his first opportunity thanks to a previous connection with his mount's trainer.
The now 31-year-old jockey worked alongside Boughey, an emerging force in British racing, when the latter was an assistant to prominent handler Hugo Palmer.
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They will join forces with Group One placegetter Believing, who clashes with the likes of Hong Kong-based Group One winners California Spangle and Victor The Winner and Japan's Mad Cool in the Chairman's Sprint Prize.
"It's great to represent the UK and George on Believing," Bentley said. "George is a trainer who has done extremely well in his relatively short training career and goes from strength to strength.
"He's a good man to be riding for. In Newmarket you get to know all the assistants and people working the yards. George served a long time with Hugo, who I used to ride a lot for, so I know George fairly well from the years gone by."
Boughey, who has only been training in his own right since 2019, will make an audacious bid to become the first Briton to win the HK$22 million sprint. Australian star Chautauqua is the only international speedster to win the coveted race, saluting in 2016.
Believing has won four of her 15 starts, including a Group Three triumph in France last year and a close third in the Group One Sprint Cup (1,207m) at Haydock in October.
"She's a Group One-placed filly and she's done some great things," Bentley said.
"Obviously Group One company is going to be tough for her, but we'll see how she's travelled and hopefully I'll have a sit on her before the weekend. It will be good just to get affiliated with her.
"It's naturally competitive racing, you don't go into any Group Ones thinking that it's going to be an easy task, but she's putting in the air miles and hopefully she's travelled well."
Believing arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday and was given some light work on a rain-sodden all-weather surface at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.
International gallopers set for Sunday's Chairman's Sprint Prize, Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) and Group One Champions Mile (1,600m) were delayed from working at Sha Tin when heavy rain and thunderstorms struck on Tuesday morning.
Britain's Dubai Honour, who returns for the QE II Cup after running third to Romantic Warrior last year, cantered a lap of the dirt track.
"He's settled in really good, this morning's not been easy with the weather but I'm very happy with him. He's great - a seasoned professional," said Issy Paul, track rider and assistant to Dubai Honour's trainer William Haggas.
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Japanese representatives Champagne Color and Obamburumai galloped on the turf ahead of their Champions Mile clash with Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty.
Meanwhile, the Jockey Club has extended Ben Thompson's visiting jockey's licence from May 1 until the end of the season on July 14.
The Australian jockey has ridden three winners in Hong Kong since February 12.
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