Kendall Jennings, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
With four group one race wins under his belt, former Myall lad, Jye McNeil, has been granted his international jockey licence. The 27-year-old heads to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for a six-week adventure, including the Longines Hong Kong International on December 11, with the possibility of the tenure increased. The jockey’s talent stands out with the gallopers evenly matched with the Hong Kong rating system.
The Hong Kong International Group One meeting is a high-dollar value race meeting. Added to the upward trend of the Hong Kong and United States dollar with the Aussie dollar on a downward trend, Jye McNeil could be rewarded with more than time in the saddle; he could be representing Australia as well as growing a prize purse.
Jye is looking forward to meeting fellow Aussie jockey 39-year-old Zac Purton (five-time Hong Kong Jockey Premiership victor) and said recently it would be a surreal moment to race against him.
Sha Tin Racecourse entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2003 with its eight-metre-high and 70.4-metre-wide screen as the longest LED display in the world, supported by horse position tracking during the race. The Jockey Club of Hong Kong has many of the world’s first technical innovations for thoroughbred racing, including a parade ring with a retractable roof.
Hong Kong racing is faster than Australian racing and it will be interesting to see how long it will take for Jye to adapt to the racing speed. Successful Australian jockeys in the past have taken two years to master the Hong Kong circuit.
Indeed, Jye has grasped an opportunity with both hands after former Racing Victoria Chief Steward and of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Licensing Committee, Terry Bailey, approached McNeil with the trip of a lifetime after 18 months of opportunities and race wins. Hopefully, McNeil will achieve his goals abroad with a new challenge on the horizon; we all know he will put in the work to achieve them.
Saturday’s Victoria Derby Day at Flemington was a difficult day at the office for Jye, with seven rides. McNeil was in front for most of the 2500 metre group one, $2m Vic Derby aboard three-year-old colt Foujita San. However, Foujita San ran out of steam near the 300-metre mark as a group of horses sailed around him to the finish line. Jye’s best finish for the day was fourth over 1400 metres aboard seven-year-old gelding Wild Planet.
Jye hoped for another Melbourne Cup ride aboard seven-year-old gelding Grand Promenade where Jye rode him to fourth on a heavy eight-rated Moonee Valley track on October 22 over 2500 metres.
However, the 27-year-old was suspended for careless riding at Sale on October 23 aboard race winner Knightjar. After being held up on the straight, McNeil moved from behind Silver Up when it was not clear of outside horses.
McNeil pled guilty and was suspended for 13 race meetings. Jye deferred his suspension until after the Victoria Derby on Saturday, delaying the introduction to his Hong Kong stint until November 12.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 3 November 2022.
