Jerry Chau is hoping to convert his best season as a senior rider into more international glory this Saturday (8 August) when he represents Team Hong Kong at Ascot’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup alongside captain Vincent Ho and teammate Luke Ferraris.

Chau said: “I’m very excited. It’s my first time at Ascot and the track is very lovely – it’s one of my favourite tracks in the world and I am looking forward to riding here. It would be so lovely if I can get a winner – it would be amazing.”

Chau’s 48 winners last season cemented a career-best campaign in Hong Kong, earning the Tony Cruz Award (2025/26) as the leading homegrown rider, notably without the use of an apprentice claim compared with 2020/21 when he secured 58 victories – the most in a single racing season by an apprentice in Hong Kong.

Now with 221 career wins in Hong Kong, Chau – a product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School – arrives in Great Britain brimming with confidence, a mindset instilled after Self Improvement nailed G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) glory last September.

Ahead of a return to Seoul’s flagship fixture on 6 September, when he pairs with Group 3 winners Beauty Waves and Romantic Thor, Chau is assigned five rides in the Shergar Cup like all participating jockeys – namely, Tuco Salamanca in the Shergar Cup Dash Handicap (1000m), Claymore in the Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap (2392m), Thunder Call in the Shergar Cup Sprint Handicap (1200m), Baltic Fleet in the Shergar Cup Classic Handicap (2392m) and Mister Winston in the Shergar Cup Mile Handicap (1594m).

Jerry Chau salutes aboard Self Improvement at Seoul for trainer Manfred Man.

Jerry Chau salutes aboard Self Improvement at Seoul for trainer Manfred Man.

Raced by owner Abdulla Al Khalifa, Thunder Call arrives in strong form, coming off a tidy third last start at Newmarket, which was preceded by consecutive wins at Kempton Park and York for William Haggas – trainer of the twice Sha Tin Group 1-placed Dubai Honour.

Thunder Call, a three-year-old son of Pinatubo, is expected to jump as race favourite on Saturday, searching for a third win in his sixth appearance.

“I’m very appreciative of The Hong Kong Jockey Club to represent Team Hong Kong. It’s a great honour and I hope I can repay them. I’ve been in Europe for nearly two weeks now and I came here yesterday (Wednesday, 5 August) – so, no jet lag for me!” Chau said.

“I’ve got Beauty Waves and Romantic Thor (in South Korea). I just hope they can handle the track and if they run good races, I’ll be very happy.”

The Shergar Cup sees riders carry their team’s silks, with points awarded to the first five horses over the line: 15 for first, 10 for second, seven for third, five for fourth and three for fifth. In addition, the Silver Saddle goes to the jockey who accumulates the most points.

The Shergar Cup Dash gets Saturday’s (8 August) six-race fixture underway – staged under the World Pool banner – at 8.35pm (Hong Kong time) from Ascot, Great Britain.