Glen Boss flagged the first shock of the new Hong Kong racing season when he told the Hong Kong Jockey Club July 29 he will not return as a club rider for the 2008-09 racing season.
Boss previously accepted a full-season contract with the HKJC but has decided to excuse himself from the engagement and return to Sydney, Australia. Boss contacted HKJC steward and licensing secretary Kim Kelly, who is holidaying in America, and explained his change of heart, citing family reasons.
“I have no complaint about Hong Kong, I had a good season and was looking forward to building on that,” Boss said. “But during the break, I have done some thinking and my future is not in Hong Kong, my future and my family’s future is in Sydney.”
Boss will return to Hong Kong Aug. 1 to collect his belongings and make final arrangements before returning to Sydney. He said he expects to work horses at Warwick Farm and Rosehill racecourses beginning Aug. 6.
“During my time in Hong Kong, the thing I missed most was the big buzz surrounding the carnivals and group I races,” said Boss, who won two group I events—the Golden Slipper Stakes and Doncaster Handicap—on hit-and-run visits to Sydney in April.
Australia’s leading group I stakes jockey in recent seasons before moving to Hong Kong 12 months ago, Boss met only lukewarm acceptance during his initial term. Still, he came within one victory of his 35-win goal and finished ninth behind Douglas Whyte (111) and Brett Prebble (83) on the jockeys’ premiership ladder, while his mounts won more than HK$28 million in prize money.
Boss said three prominent Sydney trainers had promised him “strong support” for his return, though he declined to name the trainers.
Hong Kong racing is in summer recess, and is scheduled to resume on Sept. 15.