Australian jockey Brenton Avdulla and South Australia-based apprentice Ellis Wong Chi-wang are the latest names to receive riding licenses from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Both riders have been granted licenses from May 1 until the end of the 2022-23 season.
Profile – Brenton Avdulla
Jockey Avdulla is an Australian based in New South Wales, who has amassed 13 Group 1 wins and 77 other black type winners since starting his career in Victoria in 2007. Jockey Avdulla relocated from Victoria to New South Wales in 2010 and quickly forged strong partnerships with some of Australia’s top trainers, including Chris Waller, Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes and Kris Lees. Jockey Avdulla has claimed some of Australia’s best races including the G1 Epsom Handicap (twice), Golden Slipper (twice) and the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. With 167 winners in 2017/18, Avdulla succeeded Hugh Bowman as winner of the New South Wales Metropolitan and State-wide premierships. Jockey Avdulla has also ridden in Japan and (as of 13 April 2023) has 1,364 career wins at a strike rate of 13%.
Jockey Avdulla has advised his minimum riding weight as 119 lbs.
Profile – Ellis Wong
Apprentice Ellis Wong, aged 22 years old, commenced overseas training with Thoroughbred Racing SA in Murray Bridge, South Australia on 18 December 2019 after joining the Club’s Trainee Program. Having been attached to the stable of Trainer Grant Young and commenced riding in races on 7 February 2021, Apprentice Wong transferred to Adelaide (SA) Trainer Gary Searle from 1 May 2021. Apprentice Wong has made good progress and at the time of writing, has ridden 86 winners from 910 race rides at a winning strike rate of 9%. He currently sits in 10th position on the South Australian Jockey’s Championship.
Apprentice Wong has advised his minimum riding weight as 113 lbs.
