Friday, 3rd May 2024
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Beginner’s luck or not, Harry Bentley made his first ever ride at Happy Valley a winning one at Hong Kong’s inner-city track on Wednesday. The 28-year-old UK rider, who recently joined the Hong Kong jockey ranks, charged home aboard the Douglas Whyte-trained $8.00 chance Vincy (Elzaam) in the midweek opener, leaving Karis Teetan, Joao Moreira and Zac Purton battling it out for the minor money. “To come here to Happy Valley and win on my first ride is fantastic - it’s an amazing place,” said a thrilled Bentley who has formed an important early partnership with Hong Kong racing legend Douglas Whyte, riding for the ‘Durban Demon’ four times in his first two meetings. “Douglas [Whyte] has been fantastic. In my first two meetings here he’s given me a good bit of support and I’m really appreciative of those opportunities coming from someone like him. I was able to ride out for him on the first morning that I was here before racing at Sha Tin last Saturday and he spent time with me to walk the track. I know nothing about the place and he’s provided me with some really valuable insight. He’s a multiple champion jockey, so there’s no better man to get instructions off.” Bentley becomes the first British-born rider to have ridden a winner in Hong Kong since Hollie Doyle’s maiden success, also at Happy Valley, in December 2020.
