Apprentice Nichola Yuen earns stripes, set to race in Hong Kong
Nichola Yuen became the latest product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School to join the city’s riding ranks full-time on Tuesday morning as she participated in Sha Tin barrier trials before being officially unveiled as a licensed jockey.
As she prepares to compete against some of the world’s leading jockeys at Sha Tin, the 25-year-old immediately set her sights on racing in the jurisdiction’s biggest races.
“Amazing, unbelievable,” was how Yuen described receiving the call to return home.
“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 has served her apprenticeship overseas to date, riding 61 winners in Australia racing beginning in 2021 before moving on to New Zealand, where she rode 10 winners and, most recently, South Africa racing, where she grabbed seven wins.
“I got four wins in a day in Australia, and two for my boss as well, so that was a pretty good highlight,” recalled Yuen, when asked about her fondest memories of riding abroad.
“In South Africa, (my highlight was) my first winner. It was from a protest, so it was very special for me.
“Amy Chan (Head of Racing Talent Training and Headmistress, Apprentice Jockeys’ School) and Felix Coetzee (Chief Riding Instructor, Apprentice Jockeys’ School) were both there as well, so it was really lucky to have them see me have my first win over there.”
Asked how she first became interested in horse racing, Yuen pointed to the 2008 Beijing Olympics (when the equestrian events were hosted in Hong Kong) as a formative moment in her development.
“At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I saw that (equestrian) is horses with humans, so it was a bit special for me, and I specifically paid attention to that sport,” Yuen said.
“Then I saw an advertisement from The Hong Kong Jockey Club for the racing training programme, so I just wanted to give it a try, and here I am!”
Yuen’s arrival in Hong Kong’s riding ranks means she becomes the second female jockey in the weighing room, alongside Britney Wong, who became apprenticed to trainer David Hall during the 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season.
Yuen points to luminaries Hollie Doyle and Jamie Melham as sources of inspiration.
“I saw Hollie Doyle work so hard; the hard work before, all the races, all the fitness,” Yuen said. “And Jamie Melham, I learned so much from them.”
Yuen will be in safe hands, indentured to veteran handler Ricky Yiu. The 68-year-old hasn’t had an apprentice attached to his stable since 2015, when he took Dicky Lui Cheuk-yin, who is now an Assistant Trainer to Jimmy Ting, under his wing.
“I’m really lucky to be part of his stable. Especially as Voyage Bubble is one of my favourite horses,” Yuen said. “So, I’m looking forward to that.”
Yiu said he is looking forward to Yuen joining him.
“I’ll try to help as much as I can, and with all the experience I’ve got. Because when I first joined the Club, I was also an apprentice,” he said.
“So, I have all my knowledge and experience to give her. Or maybe some shortcuts for how she rides trackwork and race riding.
“I’m glad to see she has all this experience from these three countries with different styles of riding. And I guess she must have picked up quite a great deal from all this experience. I’ll keep my eyes on all her race riding, and I’ll try to teach her something.”
Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Andrew Harding said Yuen’s introduction underlined the continued success of the Apprentice Jockeys’ School in developing riders capable of competing on Hong Kong’s highly competitive stage.
“Nichola’s arrival is another proud moment for the Apprentice Jockeys’ School and a reflection of the world-class pathway we have built here in Hong Kong,” Harding said.
“Her record across three countries speaks for itself, and we have every confidence she will make a real impact in what remains of the season.”
Harding pointed to the success of recent graduates as evidence of the School’s growing influence.
“We only have to look at what Britney Wong, Jerry Chau, Ellis Wong and Angus Chung are doing this season to understand the quality this programme produces,” he said. Nichola has that same foundation, and we look forward to seeing her flourish under Ricky Yiu’s guidance.”
Yuen can accept riding engagements for the remainder of the 2025/26 racing season from April 1.
