Grant Van Niekerk is looking forward to the Hong Kong season opener on Sunday, 2 September when he will fulfil a long-held ambition and open a new chapter in his burgeoning career story.
The South African, a 10-time G1 winner, is hoping to continue a rich connection between Hong Kong racing and his homeland as he follows the route taken by several top jockeys down the years, including three greats: Douglas Whyte, Felix Coetzee and Basil Marcus.
“Riding in Hong Kong is an experience that every jockey wants to have, especially where I’m from, so I’m very blessed to be here. Thank you to the Jockey Club for allowing me to ride here,” Van Niekerk said.
The Cape Town native, 27, was the Western Cape Champion Apprentice in 2010/11. Last season, he partnered South Africa’s Horse of the Year, Oh Susanna, to three top-flight wins that included a famous victory in the Sun Met and enabled his rise to the top of the earnings table.
Van Niekerk is no stranger to stepping into the unknown, having never sat on a horse prior to his arrival at the South African Jockey Academy in January, 2007. But, despite landing in Hong Kong only two weeks ago, he is not altogether unfamiliar with the famous two-track circuit.
“Hong Kong is very well known for its great racing, you watch it on TV and see the crowds and it’s just first class,” he said, noting that, “South African jockeys are always doing their best to get here and I’ve been trying for some time. It’s been tough but it has paid off.
“I spoke to Basil Marcus, who obviously did very well when riding here, and he gave me some advice; I can already feel how competitive it is among the jockeys here and Basil just told me to work hard and keep pushing and eventually things will turn for me. That’s what I will do – I will just try my best.”
Van Niekerk exuded a calm confidence, upbeat attitude, and warm cordiality as he spoke during a media conference at Sha Tin Racecourse on Tuesday, 22 August.
“My strength has always been my confidence,” he said. “If things get you down or there’s negativity, just push it to the side and carry on. Confidence, with me, is a big key. Once my confidence is up, it’s all much easier.
“I don’t put any obstacles in my own way, I keep a positive attitude and I just always want to do the best I can. I’ll have to win races to make it here, I know that, but if I get the opportunities, I do believe that I can deliver.”
And the rider expects – like many a jockey before him – to improve his skillset during his time in the city.
“That’s one of the main reasons we travel and ride overseas; it’s to improve as a rider. It’s all about the experience and I’m enthusiastic about that,” he added. “Coming here opens up doors to any jockey, you have to take your chance and make the most of it and that’s what I intend to do.”
Mr. Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Racing, introduced Van Niekerk to the media and complimented his attributes as well as the South African circuit’s tradition of producing top-class riders.
“South Africa has a proud history of producing top –class jockeys and over the years Hong Kong has hosted some truly great riders from that country .Grant Van Niekerk is an exciting product of that tradition. At 27 years of age he has accumulated 10 Group 1 wins, and last season he was the leading South African jockey by prize money with a win rate of nearly 20 percent. His record speaks for itself in terms of his ability and promise.”
– News from Hong Kong Jockey Club
