After nearly five seasons in Hong Kong, French jockey Antoine Hamelin is set to bid farewell to a city that has become both a proving ground and a second home, reports racingnews.hkjc.com. With over 2,200 rides under his belt and memories etched in the silks of victory, the 34-year-old is returning to France, where his career first took flight as a teenage apprentice. "I'm glad to have the experience here. I am taking everything I can take from here. I've learnt so much and I am glad for that. Thank you to The Hong Kong Jockey Club for giving me the chance to come to Hong Kong," Hamelin said. The French hoop made an immediate impression after arriving late in the 2019/20 season, but his standout moment came in January 2021 when he rode five winners on a single Sha Tin card—an achievement featuring Golden Link, Family Folks, Ping Hai Bravo, Hongkong Great and Tempest Express. "That was a crazy day. That's tattooed in my brain forever. There's a lot of memories, either in the racing bubble or out of it. I've met a lot of great people here and even though it's only five years it feels like 10 or 15 years in my head being here," he said. His most prolific season was 2020/21, when he rode 27 winners for HK$43.97 million in prize money. As the 2024/25 season winds down, Hamelin's Hong Kong career stands at 110 wins from 2,223 starts, with total earnings of HK$177.71 million. Recent highlights include victories aboard Happy Fat Cat, Nordic Dragon, and Raging Blizzard. Before arriving in Hong Kong, Hamelin gained international exposure after starting out under Jean de Roualle in Chantilly in 2009. His career took him across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, including a win at Royal Ascot aboard Different League and success in the 2012 G1 Prix du Jockey Club on fairytale colt Saonois, who would later compete in Hong Kong. "I was a little bit lost and impressed by everything in Hong Kong. Everything goes fast and everything is bigger here. I was happy to discover new things and I felt I adapted really well quite quick. I really enjoyed my time in Hong Kong," Hamelin reflected. "I leave Hong Kong but Hong Kong is in my heart. It's part of my life, so I will always be happy to come back for work or a vacation, but I'll be back for sure."