The coronavirus pandemic has caused Tommy Berry and Brett Prebble to cancel their flights to the Hong Kong Derby, reports scmp.com.
Prebble was to ride Private Secretary (Kingman-Intrigued, by Darshaan) while Berry was booked for Savvy Nine (Anodin-Insan Mala, by Bahhare) but neither will be able to fulfil those commitments after the Australian government introduced a 14-day self-isolation period for anyone arriving from overseas.
Tommy Berry – misses a good ride
The only other international jockey is Jamie Spencer who is currently waiting for advice from his local government. Spencer was to ride Super Oasis (Rock ‘n’ Pop-Not Sure, by Masterclass), and this changing situation opens the doors for local jockeys to step up.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club had previously announced that any visiting jockeys flying in for the Derby will be kept separate from those based at Sha Tin in an effort to reduce any risks posed by the virus. Those making the trip to compete in the Derby will be screened and isolated – they have been instructed not to mix with Hong Kong participants either on course or socially – to ensure everyone’s health and safety.
For many, the main concerns are that people coming into Hong Kong will bring the virus with them, and most agree that Hong Kong’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak has been exceptional. “We have created a bubble and we have to keep the bubble intact,” Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told the Post. “We won’t compromise people’s safety and our priority is to keep racing going.
“When I look at the situation in Hong Kong, you have not seen a real community-wide spread. The risks now seem to be coming from outside and we need to manage that. We love having top jockeys coming [to Hong Kong], but right now we have to put them in a different bubble so they cannot mix with our local jockeys. We will insist on a certain level of separation. We don’t want to close the door on them coming, but we have to be mindful about where we put them and we have the facilities there.”
