Top US based jockey Juan Hernandez is facing a helicopter dash to catch a flight to Los Angeles less than three hours after he rides in the big race at York on Friday.
The Mexican native heads the standings at the current Del Mar meeting in California and has important mounts on Saturday, Pacific Classic day. The day before he is due in Britain to be reunited with Bacio, the Wesley Ward-trained Royal Ascot-winning speedster who is favourite for the Group 1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes.
Hernandez fulfilled a bucket list wish when he made his debut at the royal meeting in June and steered Bacio to an impressive three and three quarter length success in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes.
Hernandez did not want to miss out on another chance to ride the sprinter but faces a tight turnaround between the off-time of the Nunthorpe Stakes at 3.40pm and his flight home from Heathrow, nearly 200 miles from York. The estimated flying time is around two hours.
“The plan is to ride Friday and then take a helicopter to Heathrow Airport,” Hernandez said.
“There’s a flight at 6:30 from Heathrow to LAX. It lands at 10 p.m. Friday because of the time change and then I will drive down to Del Mar. It’s going to be tough but I think I can do it.”
Hernandez told Del Mar that he’s never attempted a trip like this before, but he would never make his flight by car. He faces an 11½ hour flight back to California.
“I want to come back and ride because my agent Craig (O’Bryan) told me we have some nice horses Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “That’s why we’re rushing to get back. Hopefully we can do both, win the race and make the flight.”
Hernandez has a plan to combat jet lag and fatigue associated with long distance travel.
“I’m going over there a couple of days before. I’m flying Tuesday at noon and I get there on Wednesday at noon so I’ll have Wednesday afternoon to recover. I like to run the day before my race or the day of just to get used to the air. I’ll run three or four miles and then get ready for the race.”
The Nunthorpe is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
“Coming back I’ll be flying at night,” Hernandez added. “I’ll just sleep the whole flight and save energy for when I get here.”
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