Ivan Allan's plans for Fairy King Prawn face another bureaucratic obstacle after it was confirmed last night that current Jockey Club regulations will not enable Weichong Marwing to continue his association with the Horse of the Year in the Champions Mile on May 20.
Allan has earmarked the domestic Group One contest as the next target for Fairy King Prawn regardless of the international wrangling over the gelding's eligibility for the Yasuda Kinen in Japan on June 3. But the trainer could face a search for a new jockey if the Club refuses to offer Marwing a temporary licence. The South African jockey was allowed to partner Fairy King Prawn in last week's Chairman's Sprint Prize under the rule which allows a trainer to bring in any jockey for an international Group One card, but the rule does not apply to domestic-only meetings.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club's director of racing, said: 'Our rules say the only jockeys permitted to come in from outside on such days are those who have held a Club jockey's licence for more than one month in the current season. Weichong Marwing does not fall into that category because he has only been a retained rider in the current season.'
Marwing left Hong Kong in February after his retainership with Tony Millard broke down and the Club refused to grant him a Club jockey's licence for the remainder of the season. He was called up by Allan for the ride on Fairy King Prawn following Robbie Fradd's sacking, but at that time the plans included only the Chairman's Sprint Prize and the Yasuda Kinen.
Engelbrecht-Bresges said Marwing could apply to the Licensing Committee for a one-day licence to ride in the Champions Mile but added: 'It would be up to the committee, but under the current rules he would require special dispensation to be able to ride.'
The feature event on Champions Mile day is the ING Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) which will feature a rematch of the Hong Kong horses from the QE II Cup.