Neil Callan back for Ebor Festival at York ahead of Hong Kong return
Tuesday 2 August 2016 16:57, UK
Neil Callan has his first ride back in Britain on Wednesday at Brighton as he prepares for a fourth full season in Hong Kong.
The 38-year-old, who partners Freight Train for trainer Mark Johnston in the feature John Smith's Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy, is keeping his eye in before he returns to the Far East later this month ahead of the new campaign that starts on September 3 at Sha Tin.
Callan took the brave decision to try his luck on the other side of the world despite regularly riding more than 100 winners a year in the UK, where he was runner-up in the jockeys' championship in 2005 and 2007 with 151 and 170 winners respectively.
He has quickly established himself as one of the leading riders in Hong Kong and was fifth in the table last season, with 40 winners from 510 rides.
"We had a nice holiday and a break, so this will be the first ride I've taken," said Callan.
"We've got to be back by August 21. I'll be flying back the day before, so I'll still be here for York.
"The owners are good friends. I've ridden for them a long time and they've asked me to ride, so I'm more than happy to go and ride for them.
"Then on Saturday at Newmarket I've picked up all the Mark Johnston rides whatever he runs. That's a nice plus to come back and be riding for a big stable like that.
"Kevin Ryan has been my good ally for a long time when I'm in the UK and I'm sure he'll have a few for me.
"It leads up to York and hopefully I can pick up a few nice rides there. The idea was to pick up a few rides now and get my fitness back and trim my body back down."
He went on: "It's been going great over in Hong Kong. I'm riding for all the big stables. I won the last Group One of the season on Blazing Speed for Tony Cruz which was nice to finish it off.
"Blazing Speed has been a very good horse for me. He's propelled me up to the top level.
"I finished fifth in the table this season so it's going good. That was my third full season and I've been in the top five the last couple of seasons.
"If I can keep myself in the top five or even get closer in the top three that would be where I would like to be and the most important thing is to be riding in all the big races."
