Buoyed by three winners at the past four meetings, Richard Kingscote hopes his commitment to ride Rising Force at a light weight on Sunday will be vindicated with a Class Two victory.
The British jockey lifted his seasonal tally to 12 winners after a dirt double last week and a Class Three triumph on Rising Force, who steps up in grade in Sunday’s Class Two Pilkem Handicap (1,200m).
“It’s not easy but I think I’ve done OK, I’m keeping a few of my supporters happy,” Kingscote, who has also ridden 29 seconds this term, said.
“Hopefully we can just ride a few less seconds and turn them into winners. They’re running well at least but the last month or so, a few of them have been winners rather than seconds, so we’ll take it.”
A flag-bearer for Kingscote in Hong Kong, Rising Force has notched all three wins with the 39-year-old rider on board, after making an encouraging start to his career.
The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained gelding scored on debut on the dirt last season but converted that form to the turf, saluting first up before following a pair of seconds with another impressive triumph.
After leading all the way to bolt in by two and a half lengths last start, Rising Force rises in class and gets in down in the weights with just 117lb – a weight Kingscote has rarely ridden at this term.
“It’s tough, but it’s worth doing hopefully,” Kingscote said.
“Early in the season I did do 117 a few times when it was hot, but my weight’s sort of settled. I was trying to keep it around 119, but I’m happy to squeeze the lemon a bit for a horse like him.”
Rising Force jumps from barrier eight in a competitive Class Two featuring the likes of fellow last-start winners Crimson Flash and Young Champion, Colourful King, Sky Trust, Galactic Voyage and Pakistan Legacy.
“He’s still lightly raced and he’s going the right way,” Kingscote said.
“Pakistan Legacy beat him on his penultimate run and is in the race with a very good draw. I thought the way the race panned out that day didn’t suit my lad to his best, so I’m hopeful with a small weight on his back.
“The draw’s a bit tricky but it’s not the end of the world – we know he’s got good gate speed. He’s been a pretty cool horse to ride this season, so I’m looking forward to getting back on him.
“Obviously me not being here long, I don’t know what sort of race it would take to step up to a Class Two, but hopefully he’s got it within him and it would be nice if he has. It’s only his fifth run of the season and hopefully he’s got more in the tank.”
Kingscote will also ride Mr Good Vibes, Sweet Briar, Full Of Laughter and Pray For Justice, who tackles the Class Three Jordan Handicap (1,400m) for trainer David Eustace.
The Australian import ran a solid fifth on his Hong Kong debut last November, but he was withdrawn from his next assignment when found to be lame and has been off the scene since.
“He ran well on his first run and then hasn’t been seen for a while. David’s horses have been running well for me, so hopefully it will be another one,” Kingscote said.
“It’s handy to try and find a few new horses, so hopefully he will run well and we can build on that.”
