Jerry Chau could hardly hide his excitement as he prepared to embark on a new challenge in South Korea, where he’ll partner Chancheng Glory and Self Improvement this Sunday, 7 September, at Seoul Racecourse. With a quiet smile and a confident tone, the 25-year-old Hong Kong jockey described the upcoming rides as a special moment in his career, one that blends pride, pressure, and plenty of anticipation.
“I’m honoured to represent The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the owners, and the trainers on an international stage,” Chau said, moments after completing trackwork in Seoul on Thursday morning. “I really appreciate the opportunity, and I’m very excited.”
Jerry Chau’s International Journey
With 173 Hong Kong winners under his belt — including a Group 2 victory aboard Lucky Patch in 2021 — Chau is no stranger to big stages. He first gained overseas exposure in Australia, where he rode 77 winners during his training stint under Adelaide-based trainers Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas. Upon returning to Hong Kong in 2020, he made headlines by partnering 58 winners in his first full season, setting an apprentice record.
This weekend marks his second time representing Hong Kong abroad, following his ride on Duke Wai in Dubai’s 2023 G1 Al Quoz Sprint, where he finished fifth.
Tackling Seoul’s Sand Challenge
The Seoul Racecourse is unlike anything Chau has faced before. The left-handed track features a deep sand surface and a long, testing 400m home straight — a significant change from Sha Tin and Happy Valley’s turf-based racing.
Chau takes the reins on Chancheng Glory in the G3 Korea Cup (1800m, sand), jumping from barrier two, while Self Improvement contests the G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) from gate seven.
“I spoke to Karis [Teetan], who won the Korea Sprint with Super Jockey, and he told me to keep the horse rolling, not to break his rhythm,” Chau explained. “Vincent [Ho] also said the track is quite deep, so I’ll ride both horses positively. I don’t think Self Improvement likes too much kickback, so I’ll try to keep him open to avoid it.”
Form, Fitness, and Strategy For Chancheng Glory
Chancheng Glory, trained by Francis Lui, is yet to race on dirt in Hong Kong but has sharpened up in trials ahead of this test. “He’s fitter now, and this distance suits him,” Chau said with quiet confidence.
Self Improvement, trained by Manfred Man, already boasts four dirt wins over 1200m at Sha Tin, making him a proven performer on similar going. Both horses completed their first look at the Seoul track on Thursday, giving Chau a better feel for conditions.
History and High Stakes
Hong Kong’s record in South Korea is mixed. Super Jockey famously captured the 2016 Korea Sprint, while Fight Hero finished runner-up in 2018. However, no Hong Kong-trained runner has placed in the Korea Cup yet. Last year, trainer Pierre Ng sent Duke Wai and Apache Pass, finishing fourth and ninth, respectively.
This year, both the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint offer automatic qualification for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, California — an incentive not lost on Chau and his team.
“There are no American horses, which gives us a better chance,” Chau said, though he acknowledged the strong Japanese presence, with Ramjet, Dura Erede, and Diktaean among the Korea Cup challengers, while Chikappa, Sunrise Hawk, and Tagano Beauty lead Japan’s Korea Sprint hopes.
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