Cash Asmussen, one of the most famous names in European racing over the past 25 years, is back in Hong Kong. But this time, there was no need to reserve bench space for him in the jockeys' room on international day.
Asmussen, a two-time winner on Hong Kong racing's day of days, is now retired. The 41-year-old stepped out of the game he loved, on top, at age 38, and is now concentrating on educating young horses on the family ranch in Texas.
At first glance, Asmussen looks anything but a jockey. He's tall and strong, with a chest and shoulder structure that would do most weightlifters proud, He's a trim 70kg, so one can scarcely imagine the pain he must have endured to ride at 53kg for two decades. 'Yeah, it was tough, but the secret was I never allowed myself to put any weight on because I knew it would be impossible to get it off,' he said.
Asmussen is in town as the pre-trainer and educator for the American-bred two-year-olds that were purchased for the International Sale on Friday. 'That's what I do now - I'm still riding a lot of horses every day. It keeps me in the game I love, and I'm really enjoying it.'
Asmussen has his name indelibly etched in a piece of Hong Kong international day history as the winning jockey of the very first Hong Kong Vase winner, Red Bishop, in 1994, and he returned to win the Cup on Val's Prince three years later.
Although a proud Texan, Asmussen spent 20 years riding in France, most of it for the Niarchos family. He was also contracted to Sheik Mohammed, and as stable rider for top French trainer Andre Fabre. Among his 3,000 career winners and 97 Group or Grade One winners, his all-time favourites were French Derby and Arc hero Suave Dancer, great international racemare April Run and Nureyev's crack miler son, Spinning World.
Asmussen's patient riding, hands and heels style and signature late swoop have been admired around the world. Sydney's Danny Beasley, who came to Hong Kong for the last term of the 2002-03 season, is a big Asmussen fan - to the extent he even named his first-born son Cash.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51krrPAyJyjnmdkaIR2f5doo56flaOxor7YZpispaWowKa6jK2sq6ajYrKlwcKaq6iqXam1sL7Orp6hmqKasW661Kuqnqqp