Dylan Browne McMonagle is set to make his mark in Hong Kong, going his own way as he prepares to ride his own path in a race against the odds. He won’t be chasing Romantic Warrior because his focus is on delivering his best ride aboard Galen in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin this Sunday, while also riding Al Riffa in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m).
The Irish champion jockey has agreed to a short-term Hong Kong stint starting January 1, and Sunday will offer him a first real glimpse of life there as he competes on Galen in the Cup and on Al Riffa in the Vase.
McMonagle has already familiarized himself with his new environment and expects life in Hong Kong to present a demanding, no-nonsense introduction.
“You’ll walk the track wherever you go—you’ve got to know the ground you’re racing on, and if there are advantages, it’s up to you to uncover them,” he noted. “Those advantages can help, but on a track this fair, there isn’t much to exploit. It’s all straightforward here, the rules are strict, and everyone is incredibly professional. Each rider here is at the peak of their game, so this weekend will be fiercely competitive and nobody will give an inch.”
McMonagle will link up with Group One winner Al Riffa in the Hong Kong Vase after seeing him finish seventh in the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m) under jockey Mark Zahra.
“He’s got a lot of class, he’s uncomplicated and a pleasure to ride—calm and responsive under pressure. You can position him anywhere in the race, and he’ll handle whatever the setup is,” said McMonagle.
He will also confront Romantic Warrior in a seven-runner Hong Kong Cup aboard Galen, the Group Two Bahrain Trophy (2,000m) runner-up. But the 22-year-old rider is focused on giving Galen every chance to perform.
“The horse took a big step forward in Bahrain—arguably his best effort yet. He seems to enjoy the track and the quicker ground, so we’ll see if he can replicate or better that form in this race,” he said. “Romantic Warrior will likely be tracking behind us, so I won’t get distracted by him. My job is to ride Galen to the best of my ability and extract the maximum from him.”
