When Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance won the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup under William Buick at Sha Tin in May, James Ross was yet to return to Hong Kong.
Appointed in March as the Jockey Club’s head of racing commercial, a newly created position, Ross would soon be professionally reacquainted with Hong Kong a decade after he left to pursue career opportunities in Australia.
The Champions & Chater Cup victory by Rebel’s Romance would be a pointer to the ambitions held by Ross and fellow Jockey Club executives including Winfried Engelbrecht-Breges and Andrew Harding.
International owners of the prominence of Godolphin’s Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, Coolmore’s Magnier family and others of global significance have made fly-in, fly-out once or twice a year appearances, but the ambition is to give them a permanent presence in Hong Kong.
It’s been a concerted push by the Jockey Club to bolster its horse population through expanding its coveted ownership base that was already underway before Ross’ July arrival.
Yulong’s Zhang Yuesheng, South Africa’s Mary Slack, New Zealand Bloodstock owner Sir Peter Vela and Gandharvi Racing’s Kuldeep Singh Rajput are among those to have already been offered permits by the Jockey Club.
“A key part of our three-to-five-year strategy is owners and how we're not only enhancing the overall ownership opportunity but how we're continuing to make our world-class racing one of the most compelling offerings globally to be part of,” Ross tells The Straight.
“I think a number of those people who've received permits have been significant contributors to the industry globally.
“And we're interested in gaining their involvement in Hong Kong as we continue to look to strengthen the quality of horses in Hong Kong.
“People with a strong influence in breeding high-quality horses and people with an interest in taking part in Hong Kong racing, I think can only be for the betterment to have those people join in.”
Hong Kong racing is familiar territory for Ross, having worked in the handicapping and race programming department from 2005 to 2014 before returning to Australia, spending almost two years at the Victoria Racing Club before joining the Australian Turf Club.
At the time of his resignation from the ATC, he was general manager of racing, wagering and international.
He was also linked to the Racing Victoria chief executive job, filled in August by the acting CEO Aaron Morrison, but Ross played down his interest, preferring not to discuss the possible appointment and reaffirming his commitment to the HKJC.
The same can be said for Ross’ desire to look after the club’s existing ownership base, stressing the importance of its current investors as much as recruiting new international owners, as well as working closely with the sales companies from around the world to help source suitable horses to race in Hong Kong.
"I think globally there's been a change in competitive forces in the purchase of horses. We've always been very focused on and had great results by sending unraced horses to Hong Kong,” Ross says.
“And you will see over the next few years, the Jockey Club partnering closely with owners and trainers to be able to participate more extensively in sales within our key markets, such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland.
“We find those jurisdictions very accessible. The sales companies are particularly active and they're more than happy to work really closely with our owners to try and facilitate their attendance at these types of sales and make that experience as rewarding as possible, whether they're first-time owners or significant owners.”
Ross makes a compelling case for overseas players to get involved on a permanent basis in Hong Kong racing.
“The club has worked really hard on its product and we've also introduced a number of initiatives to offset owner expenses this year, but it's got prize money per race that's unmatched around the world,” he says.
“And we're looking at new ways people can be part of that, but in particular, engaging with new markets. But a big focus domestically on bringing through the next generation of owners in Hong Kong.
“I think it was a very strategic focus of Winfried to be very proactive in this space.”
Tim Rowe
About 20 Hong Kong owners were at October’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale and there was also participation by the cohort at the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale a week later.
A large contingent of Jockey Club’s existing permit holders will also be at Karaka for this week’s two-day New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
“The level of engagement that you can get from owners at a sales complex (is vital to encouraging investment),” Ross says.
“You've got the opportunities to provide insights from expert bloodstock agents, from vets, for them to be able to meet vendors and to have firsthand conversations, so I think that's critical.”
The Hong Kong cohort made a huge impact at last year’s New Zealand sale, particularly Yeung Kin Man, the smartphone entrepreneur who races the “Patch” horses, and he is expected to be among the group returning this year.
At last year’s sale, Yeung spent $2.46 million on 12 horses while Hong Kong owners took home 72 of the 225 horses sold at Karaka, including the four highest-priced lots sold.
“A key part of our three-to-five-year strategy is owners and how we're not only enhancing the overall ownership opportunity but how we're continuing to make our world-class racing one of the most compelling offerings globally to be part of” Hong Kong Jockey Club executive James Ross
That investment at Karaka and Australian sales in new horses is helping the Jockey Club reach its goal of increasing its horse population from more than 1300 by about 10 per cent.
“We've got our ambition to begin our racing at Conghua Racecourse in 2026,” the Australian administrator says.
“So, I think we'll grow towards that target. At the moment, our ownership numbers are tracking very well and our horse numbers are returning post-COVID, which is quite pleasing.”
