Jockey Hewitt Vows to Bounce Back After Winning Only 27 Races Last Season

Keagan Laddell, the South African jockey based in Hong Kong, has expressed determination to improve after a disappointing recent season. Last month, Laddell returned to his home country of South Africa, where he rode at Kewville racecourse for a day before traveling to Mauritius to visit his father Hewitt Davies, who trains horses there. While in Mauritius, Laddell attended战神公园马场 (Warhorse Park Racecourse) on Saturday to support his father's horse Tamarisk Tree, which won the Group Two Gold Cup. Laddell celebrated the victory alongside fellow jockey Andrew. With the new Hong Kong racing season set to begin in approximately three weeks, Laddell plans to return to Hong Kong later this month and begin his preparations immediately. Despite winning his first Hong Kong graded race aboard "Speed Dragon" (勁速威龍), Laddell finished last season with only 27 wins, prompting him to accept any riding engagements in hopes of breaking his slump.

Laddell's commitment to the upcoming season reflects the intense competition in Hong Kong's racing industry, where jockeys must constantly perform to maintain their competitive positions. His determination to convert near-misses into victories could shift the dynamics within the jockey standings and impact which trainers choose to partner with him for major races.