A fortnight after penning a new chapter to the history of China’s emerging thoroughbred racing industry, jockeys Qin Yong and Chen Li will bid to extend upon it at Barbados’ Garrison Racecourse tomorrow.
The duo are the first of a new generation of young jockeys from Mainland China to compete overseas and created international headlines on the biggest day of racing in the Caribbean when Qin Yong produced a superlative ride to win the Green Monkey Trophy in front of Barbados Prime Minister, the Honorable Freundel Stuart and a sea of local and international onlookers that were cramming into every vantage point of the small circuit.
Qin Yong(left) and Chen Li(right)
The extensive media coverage of the ever smiling Qin Yong and the quietly spoken Chen Li since that day initially daunted the pair but they now feel more settled into what is an important stepping stone in their careers.
“We are in the progress of learning and improving, hopefully we can perform our best in each race as well as in life for our families, friends and the Chinese industry,” Qin Yong said.
“The comprehensive support we have received from the China Horse Club and Barbados Turf Club has helped us a lot to settle into a new life here. We are also very grateful to the trainers who are also guiding us and also who are providing us with such amazing chances to ride track works and in races.”
Qin Yong and Chen Li arrived in Barbados at the start of the month as the first inductees of the CHC China Dream Project, an initiative of the China Horse Club which is designed to provide international opportunities to talented young men and women from the thoroughbred industry in China.
The young men are exceedingly aware of the importance of consistency and in trying to build upon their wonderful start to a seasonal commitment in Barbados.
(from left)Chen Li, Qin Yong, Sir David Seale(4th from left), Lady Seale, Gayle Seale, Eden Harrington, Richard Seale, Xin Xin
“This week, as the representative of Chinese jockeys, we will face the challenge again. We have a big opportunity of competing in Barbados without a home support team around us,” Qin Yong added.
“We will try our best to help and encourage each other to continue progressing and to archive our goals.”
The 26-year-old Chen Li feels more settled in the island nation now and feels better prepared for Saturday’s contest where he has two rides and Qin Yong three.
” I am looking forward to better performance this Saturday,” he said.
“We have spent two weeks in Barbados now and are more settled. I’ve improved on fitness level, plus we have a better understanding of the track and the racing pace here after competing in races. Watching replays helps but riding is different. So we are more confident than last race day.”
Chen Li will partner Lady Dancer and Qin Yong will ride Lady Nuk in the Desmond “Robin” King Memorial (1100m) and both will also contest the Charles “Smally” Small Memorial (1570m) riding King’s Meadow and last start winner Kingston Kitty respectively. Qin Yong will also partner Halle Rose in the Louis Corbin Memorial Trophy (1100m).
The increased opportunities are a direct result of growing relationships with leading stables and the assisting in building these relationships through the Barbados Turf Club.
“In the last two weeks we have begun to help trainer Victor Cheeseman with barn works, we’ve had more chance to talk to different trainers and also worked with trainer Robert Peirce at a horse rehabilitation charity,” Chen Li said.
“The trainers are willing to help us, they see our improvement and we have also became more familiar with their routines and style of training.”
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please email your inquiry to horses@chinahorseclub.com