Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli capped his first stint in Hong Kong with victory on Japan’s Rulership in the 2012 QEII Cup. He commenced his apprenticeship in his homeland in 2005 and was crowned Italian Champion Jockey in both the 2019 and 2010 racing seasons. That 2009 title came courtesy of 245 wins, a total that bettered the longstanding previous record of 229. He has achieved four G1 victories in Italy on Aoiffe Alainn (2010 Premio Lydia Tesio), Estejo (2011 Premio Presidente della Repubblica), Priore Philip (2013 Premio Gran Criterium) and Cleo Fan (2015 Premio Presidente della Repubblica). In early 2011 he rode in Japan, winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. A frequent winter rider in Hong Kong in recent times, he has also ridden with great success in France winning top-level races aboard Molly Malone in the 2012 Prix du Cadran and Vert De Grece in the 2014 Criterium International. He started his riding stints in Hong Kong in 2011/12 season, and amassed 122 wins during his nine seasons here before moving his riding base to the United States of America, where he has won the Santa Anita Derby, Shoemaker Mile Stakes, Rodeo Drive Stakes, Gamely Stakes, Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes and chiefly, the Preakness Stakes – the second leg of the American Triple Crown – aboard Journalism, and by doing so, became the first jockey from Italy win a Triple Crown race. Honours:Italian Champion Jockey (2009 & 2010); the first jockey from Italy to win an American Triple Crown race. IJC record: Debut