SILVESTRE DE SOUSA: Hong Kong news & Brighton Friday

I suppose the only place I can really start is with the news that I am leaving England later this month and returning for another season in Hong Kong. It was a really hard decision for me to make, particularly with a young family here. However, being invited back out to ride over there is a real honour and a difficult opportunity to turn down. The quality of the racing in Hong Kong is unbelievable with really strong levels of prize money. My plans at this stage are to ride at York’s Ebor meeting and then fly out to Hong Kong at the end of that week. That gives me a chance to ride track work before the season gets underway in September. Vicky and the kids will stay here, but will obviously fly out to visit me during holidays and breaks. I am hugely grateful for everyone who has given me opportunities over here and would like to thank Star Sports for sponsoring me this season and for their understanding of why this is too big an opportunity for me to miss.

On the subject of Star Sports, I’m thrilled to be going to Brighton on Friday to ride on the final day of the three-day festival there. It’s a track I really enjoy riding as it presents similar challenges to places like Epsom. I’ve got a couple of nice rides to look forward to and hopefully will meet some of you down there on the south coast on the day…

FRIDAY

BRIGHTON

BETWEENTHESTICKS (1.50pm)

Only the three rivals for Betweenthesticks, my first ride of the day for Mick Channon. He’s been freshened up for this and should go very close I hope. I finished third on him two starts back on the all-weather where he shaped like it was worth dropping back to this six furlong trip. He’s previously run well at the track when he was third here in April and the ground shouldn’t be a bother either. There are plenty of grounds for optimism and, like I said, he should take some beating. The obvious danger would be the top one Whistle And Flute if he returns to the form he showed earlier in the season.

SIR OLIVER (2.20pm)

I finished fifth on Sir Oliver last time on the all-weather a few weeks back now, and he can go well on his return to turf. His handicap mark on the grass is much lower than that on the all-weather, so he is weighted to be competitive if he can put his best foot forward.

Good Luck
SDS

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