Our questions are answered by the record-breaking trainer, a four-time champion at home in New Zealand now in his second campaign based in Hong Kong
Jamie Richards had achieved virtually everything there was to achieve at home in New Zealand when two years ago the highflying trainer made the bold decision to move to Hong Kong.
Four-time NZ champion Richards, 34, broke a string of Kiwi training records at the helm of the powerful Te Akau Racing team, a total of 53 G1 victories including many across the ditch in Australia. Notable horses he campaigned were headed by Melody Belle, the dual NZ Horse of the Year with an NZ record 14 G1 wins to her name, plus Probabeel, Te Akau Shark, Xtravagant, Gingernuts and Avantage.
However, Richards shocked the NZ racing community by announcing that he and his partner Danielle Johnson, a former NZ champion jockey, were taking on a new challenge in Hong Kong. “It was an incredible opportunity to come and train in Asia,” he explains.
“The prize-money is very high, the tax rate pretty low. It’s a very rewarding place on a financial basis but it’s also a very challenging place professionally. This is the most difficult place in the world to win a race and I think it is underestimated how competitive this place is.”
After being such a dominant force at home, Richards has yet to dine at the top table in Hong Kong, which he admits has led to some “soul-searching”. He trained 35 winners in his first HK season (2022-23) and has 17 for the current campaign. “I’ve gone from top of the pile in New Zealand to the middle of the pack battling away a bit,” he says.
“But it will turn, we just have to keep working hard,” he adds. “An opportunity for myself and Danielle to set ourselves up for the rest of our lives was pretty enticing. We’d achieved pretty much everything we could achieve in New Zealand.
“I am very happy with the decision I’ve made. Even when you are having a bad day. We will have a good horse turn up at some stage.”
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
John Magnier has probably been the most influential breeder and racehorse owner in my lifetime, for what he has done from his time with Robert Sangster to where he is now with Coolmore and Ballydoyle.
With the partners they have, the training operation with Aidan O’Brien and studs in Ireland, Australia and America, they continue to lead the way on a global front like nobody else has.
Dr Vincent O’Brien was an integral part of all of that too. I think what John Magnier has done for thoroughbred racing on a worldwide scale is incomparable.
Which is your favourite venue, and race, anywhere in the world?
My favourite race meeting would have to be the Karaka Millions [at Ellerslie in Auckland]. As a raceday it is short and sharp, a twilight meeting with six races, and a great atmosphere. It’s been a very successful hunting ground for us. I love New Zealand bloodstock, I love the New Zealand industry.
I’m hoping my favourite venue will be Sha Tin over the next 20-30 years!
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
What Winx was able to achieve – winning four Cox Plates – was quite incredible. She was a beautiful mare, trained to perfection by Chris Waller and ridden to perfection by Hugh Bowman.
If I was allowed to choose another, it would be Golden Sixty. Watching him race and then coming here to train has been quite incredible. He has also been prepared so well by Francis Lui and ridden so well by Vincent Ho.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Winning the Chipping Norton with Te Akau Shark at Randwick, 30 minutes after we won the Surround Stakes with Probabeel. Two runners on a Group 1 day at Randwick, one of the best racecourses in the world, and to win two feature G1 races on that day was very rewarding. I remember vividly flying home that night with the trophies with Opie Bosson and Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
There are a lot of good things happening in racing at the moment. I’m a proud Kiwi and recently there have been a lot of prize-money injections from the New Zealand Government and Entain.
There are some really positive things happening around getting the younger generation into racing as well. There needs to be continued upgrading of infrastructure and facilities.
We are so lucky in Hong Kong to have Happy Valley and Sha Tin which have two of the best racing surfaces in the world. There can be any amount of rain and they still race.
In Australia and New Zealand we are not that lucky. Particularly in New Zealand where there are a lot of tracks that need maintenance and upgrades. Even Rosehill and Randwick get very testing when it rains in the autumn.
Jamie Richards was speaking to Jon Lees
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