Michael Dee will commence his short-term riding stint in Hong Kong with three mounts at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Starry Night, Lean Hero and Sight Hero are Dee’s first rides in the city – all for trainer David Hayes – and come fresh following his Group One success on Saturday (20 May) at Morphettville in Adelaide, Australia aboard Royal Merchant in the Gr.1 The Goodwood (1200m).
Hailing from a racing tradition in New Zealand, Dee is the son of a former trainer. He’s ridden over 700 winners and has Group One victories in the Caulfield Cup, Victoria Derby, Blue Diamond Stakes, Coolmore Classic, The Goodwood and Australian Guineas (twice).
“It is very exciting. It’s going to be certainly a different challenge but it’s exciting. It’s obviously going to be very different but at this time in Australia, apart from the Queensland Carnival, it’s pretty much a quiet period in Victoria – it’s certainly a good time to be spreading my wings and having a look at Hong Kong,” Dee said.
Dee completed a two-week apprentice loan in Hong Kong before he relocated to Australia in 2015. Dee’s minimum riding weight is 113lb and his licence concludes after the fixture on 9 July at Sha Tin.
“It’s probably on every jockey’s radar to have the opportunity (to ride in Hong Kong) and I am lucky that this has come up now,” Dee said.
Dee has enjoyed success in Australia with Hayes’ sons Ben & JD; tomorrow night the in-form rider heads to Happy Valley for the second time after previously riding in a barrier trial through his apprentice loan swap.
“He’s probably been their (Ben & JD Hayes) most successful jockey and he was an obvious choice and I think he was an astute choice for Hong Kong,” Hayes said.
