Fresh start: Jamie Richards bounces back

From shocking season to shock championship leader – Jamie Richards has wasted no time in setting the tone for the 2025/26 campaign.

After what Richards admits was a “shocking” 2024/25, Richards walked into Sha Tin’s Season Opening meeting with a point to prove – and walked out with a double. By Wednesday night at Happy Valley, he’d added two more and was the surprise early leader in the trainers’ championship.

Two meetings out of 88 is a small sample, but Richards couldn’t have hoped for a better start after a rugged third season in which 22 horses left his yard and he slumped to a career-low 22 winners.

The young trainer is clearly back – with a bounce in his step and runners firing early.

“I am loving it – it’s nice to be back in the game. I’ve made a few changes and I’m looking forward to regaining the owners’ faith,” Richards told The Standard.

He has shifted from Olympic Stables into Sha Tin’s main block, added assistant Ben So Tik-hung and embraced a fresh outlook.

“Ben has been a good addition – strong with staff and owners. I just had too many horses walking out the door,” Richards said.

With 47 horses on his books, Richards doesn’t yet have the numbers to maintain a genuine title run but believes a strong start is vital.

“Of course if the results keep coming everybody will be happy,” he said. “But it’s about riding the lows without losing horses.”

Richards is the first trainer to notch four wins this season and will be the first trainer to have a horse run on a one week back-up when opening-day winner Groovy Feeling contests the Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (Class 4, 1,200 meters).

“If a horse is fit and well, there’s no reason to wait,” he said. “Groovy Feeling won well, pulled up strongly, and I think he’ll handle the backup with Zac Purton on from a good draw.” Richards also fancies Jubilant Winner in the Lok Wah Handicap (Class 4, 1,200m). “He’s going well,” Richards said. “He hasn’t quite got there yet but has trialed strongly. It’s a tough race with Tourbillon Golfer, but my horse is in with a chance.”