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Lo ready to go in the city

Great news for young apprentice Gary Lo, who has been granted permission to begin riding in the Metropolitan area from this Saturday.

The 20 year-old has had 395 race starts for 28 wins and 91 placings in his career spanning just over a year. Lo’s had most of his success on the provincial tracks of Balaklava and Gawler with six and five wins at those tracks respectively.

It’s been a pretty good season for Lo, who has notched up 20 winners so far including a win in Tasmania where he claimed a race in the National Apprentice Series in Launceston and his good season looks set to continue.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to ride in the city. I have been riding in Australia about one year and getting a lot of experience. I’m absolutely ready for the challenge.”

Lo will make his Metropolitan debut at Morphettville aboard Ryan Balfour’s Hidatsa in Race 5 and follow that with rides aboard George Karayannis’ Jackthegiantslayer and Will Clarken’s Institution.

A part of the Phillip Stokes stable, Lo has ridden seven winners from 34 starts from his boss, at a very serviceable 21% strike rate. He’s also had great success for the Finniss Lodge stable riding six winners from 25 starts at 24%.

“(Phillip) supports me lots and gives me many opportunities to ride all his horses and he looks after me all the time.”

It’s not just Stokes that Lo can turn to when in need of some advice. He has a strong base of support from not only here in South Australia but all the way from Hong Kong.

“Felix Coetzee is my coach in Hong Kong. He watches all the replay of my rides after the races and talks to me what I’ve done right or wrong and what I can improve on.”

Back here, Lo has had a lot of support from both Briony Moore and Darryn Murphy.

“They walk the track with me all the time and watch replays with me. We do some fitness and mechanical horse work which helps me keep a good style in the race.”

In the long term, Lo will be hoping to follow in the steps of Alfred Chan, Victor Wong and Matthew Poon who cut their teeth here in SA before heading back home to Hong Kong to ride on one of the biggest stages in the world but for now Lo is focused on finding a city winner or two.

“My goal is get 20 winners in the city and go through my 3kg claim first.”

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