Callan’s Glorious HK racing link: ‘it’s heartwarming I can represent the fans’

A tick over 18 months have passed since Neil Callan ended what was a tumultuous final few months of his Hong Kong career with a flurry of winners, but the Irishman says the affinity he has with the city has never waned.

It’s well known Callan’s time in Hong Kong didn’t end how he would have liked it, with a 15-meeting suspension – reduced from 28 on appeal, ensuring he could finish the 2020-21 season – over his conduct in a stewards’ inquiry the main talking point of his final months at Sha Tin.

“The way I left Hong Kong wasn’t the way I wanted it to be, that was out of my hands, but in the future I was hoping that I would get some sort of connection back to Hong Kong in some way. The support I had there over the years was pretty special,” Callan said.

That opportunity will come this Saturday at Meydan, with Callan partnering Glorious Dragon for rookie trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) on World Cup night.

Callan says he “always thought Pierre was going to make a very good trainer” and has a strong connection with Glorious Dragon’s owners, but admits he’s just as excited about flying the flag for Hong Kong’s fans.

“The opportunity to ride for Pierre in Dubai makes me very happy – to be able to come and represent him, the owners, the connections and Hong Kong,” Callan said.

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“But it’s more heartwarming that I can represent the Hong Kong racing fans. You know how passionate they are on race day in Hong Kong. I think it’s an affinity with the racing fans that comes more to my heart than anything.”

A two-time champion jockey in Bahrain since departing Hong Kong, Callan has also had big-race success in Britain and admits he’s keeping an eye out for gallopers that could take him back to Sha Tin.

“If there is an opportunity to come back for an international meeting, I will grab it with both hands,” he said. “From my perspective, that’s what I thought would be the only way in for me.

“Since I left I haven’t taken my eye off Hong Kong racing. I’ve watched every race meeting.”

Glorious Dragon faces a mighty task this weekend in a Dubai Turf loaded with talent and while Callan doesn’t expect his first World Cup night win to come aboard the grey, he’s hoping to use his experience to ensure connections get a run for their money.

“World Cup night has been a bit too tough for me in the past but I’ve ridden in Dubai for a long time. I was here as an apprentice, I did a lot of work experience for Godolphin, so I know the track and I know the scene here very well,” he said.

“Glorious Dragon feels good. I think the different surroundings here might refresh his mind and the track here is not as firm as Sha Tin. When horses tend to get a little older they tend to appreciate a little bit of cushion in the track.

“We’re under no illusion that the competition is very strong and it’s going to be very tough, but he feels very well and hopefully we can nick some prize money.”

Among the Dubai Turf line-up are Japanese quartet Do Deuce, Serifos, Danon Beluga and Vin De Garde, two-time champion Lord North – who shared the race with Panthalassa last year – and Godolphin’s trio Nations Pride, Master Of The Seas and Real World.

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