Nichola Yuen has officially joined the Hong Kong riding ranks, marking an important milestone in her career after years of honing her craft overseas. The 25-year-old rider, a graduate of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, took part in Sha Tin barrier trials on Tuesday morning (10 March) before being formally unveiled as a licensed jockey.
For Yuen, returning home to compete at Sha Tin represents both a dream realised and the beginning of a new chapter. Having already ridden winners across three racing jurisdictions, she now aims to make her mark on one of the sport’s most competitive stages.
“Amazing, unbelievable,” Yuen said when describing the moment she learned she would be returning to Hong Kong as a fully licensed rider. “I’m really excited for the future. To ride more winners on this, the biggest stage in the world, it’s really exciting. Hopefully, I can ride in many big races here.”
Yuen’s journey to the Hong Kong riding ranks has taken her across the globe. She began her overseas apprenticeship in Australia in 2021, where she rode 61 winners before continuing her development in New Zealand and South Africa. In New Zealand she added 10 wins to her record, while a further seven victories came during her most recent stint in South Africa.
Among her favourite memories abroad was a remarkable day in Australia when she rode four winners on the same programme, including two for her principal trainer.
“I got four wins in a day in Australia, and two for my boss as well, so that was a pretty good highlight,” she recalled.
Her first success in South Africa also holds a special place in her career story. That victory came following an inquiry, making the moment even more memorable, particularly as key figures from the Apprentice Jockeys’ School were present.
“In South Africa, my first winner was very special,” Yuen said. “Amy Chan and Felix Coetzee were both there, so it was really lucky they could see me get that win.”
Nichola Yuen joins Hong Kong riding ranks with global experience
Yuen traces her earliest fascination with horses back to the equestrian events staged in Hong Kong during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Watching the partnership between horse and rider sparked a curiosity that ultimately led her toward a career in racing.
“At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I saw that horses and humans work together, which felt special to me,” she said. “Later I saw an advertisement for the racing training programme and decided to give it a try.” Her arrival means she becomes the second female jockey currently in the Hong Kong weighing room, joining Britney Wong, who was apprenticed to trainer David Hall during the 2024/25 season.
Yuen says she has drawn inspiration from several accomplished female riders on the international stage. “I saw Hollie Doyle work so hard – all the races, all the fitness,” she explained. “And Jamie Melham as well. I learned a lot from watching them.”
In Hong Kong, Yuen will be attached to the stable of experienced trainer Ricky Yiu. The veteran handler has not had an apprentice assigned to his yard since 2015, when Dicky Lui Cheuk-yin began his training career there before later becoming an assistant trainer. “I’m really lucky to be part of his stable,” Yuen said. “Especially as Voyage Bubble is one of my favourite horses, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Yiu welcomed the opportunity to guide the young rider as she begins the next stage of her career. “I’ll try to help as much as I can with all the experience I’ve got,” Yiu said. “When I first joined the Club, I was also an apprentice, so I understand the process. I’ll share what I can about trackwork and race riding.”
He also believes Yuen’s international exposure will prove valuable. “She has ridden in three countries with different riding styles,” he said. “She must have picked up a lot from those experiences, and I’ll keep an eye on her race riding and help where I can.”
Andrew Harding, Executive Director of Racing at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, described Yuen’s arrival as another success story for the Apprentice Jockeys’ School, highlighting the programme’s growing reputation for developing talented riders. “Nichola’s arrival is another proud moment for the Apprentice Jockeys’ School,” Harding said. “Her record across three countries shows the strength of the pathway we’ve built here, and we are confident she can make an impact during the remainder of the season.”
Harding also pointed to the achievements of recent graduates as evidence of the programme’s effectiveness. “We only have to look at what Britney Wong, Jerry Chau, Ellis Wong and Angus Chung are doing this season to see the quality being produced,” he said. “Nichola has the same foundation, and we look forward to seeing her develop further under Ricky Yiu’s guidance.”
Yuen will be eligible to accept riding engagements in Hong Kong from 1 April for the remainder of the 2025/26 season, when she officially joins the competitive Hong Kong riding ranks.
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