A busy summer riding in the UK has Vincent Ho Chak-yiu primed to bounce back from a frustrating campaign when the new Hong Kong season launches on Sunday.

As most trainers and jockeys left the city for off-season holidays, Ho spent his break riding at tracks across the UK in a bid to maintain peak fitness.

Hong Kong’s top home-grown jockey had multiple stints on the sidelines last term after nasty race falls in Japan and at Sha Tin, as well as a suspension for failing to ride Capital Delight all the way to the line in October.

While he only rode three winners in his summer stint overseas, which also included a detour to Germany for the German Oaks and competing in the World All-Star Jockeys series in Japan, Ho said the experience has him raring to go for the new Hong Kong season.

“I’m happy with the off-season – very busy, lots of driving and lots of jet lag, but it was good,” Ho said.

“I freshened up my mind in a different way. Of course it’s not completely tuning down and relaxing, but I was working and riding in a different environment.”

The annual Glorious Goodwood carnival was a highlight for Ho, who went close to an upset victory when a neck second on Brioni at the famed West Sussex track on August 1.

“Goodwood was great,” Ho said.

“The track was great and it was a good experience. Although I was riding some outsiders, it didn’t matter. I had a second and third, but it was a great experience throughout the whole week.”

Ho still had plenty of reason to celebrate last season, becoming the first home-grown rider to win the International Jockeys’ Championship in December and scoring a sensational Group One Hong Kong Mile triumph on champion galloper Golden Sixty.

However, the interruptions to his campaign relegated the 34-year-old to seventh in the jockeys’ championship with 41 wins – a figure well short of his previous totals.

“It was a tough year for sure, mentally and physically,” Ho said.

“But that’s what sport is about. It’s great that I’m still here and I’ll get back on some good horses, hopefully, and pursue our dreams. I’ve been contacting trainers and everything a bit late, so I’ll slowly get things going and hopefully it’s another good season.”

While he has not set any specific goals for the 2024-25 campaign, Ho is eager to be a force in as many Group Ones as possible.

A fifth Tony Cruz Award – presented to the leading local rider every season – also figures to be high on his agenda.

“Try to get [on] as many good horses as possible from different trainers and [win] more big races,” Ho said of his aims this season.