Ricky Ludwig’s Path to Hong Kong with Sprinter
Elle
Dec 18th 2025
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Ricky Ludwig’s visit to Hong Kong is a landmark event that he didn’t see coming. The septuagenarian from Tolga in Far North Queensland has been a typical Aussie overall, in the way he has lived his life, and for the most part, has been occupied with horses on countryside tracks for many years. However, it is because of the advancement of a horse he used to train that he is going to take his inaugural flight abroad.
That horse, Tomodachi Kokoroe, started his career far from major racing centres. Ludwig worked with him on small regional tracks, focusing on steady progress and straightforward routines. The horse showed above average speed in his early work, yet few could have predicted the path that followed. When the opportunity came for the gelding to continue his career abroad, Ludwig agreed, believing the horse might benefit from a fresh environment and access to stronger competition.
Tomodachi Kokoroe eventually joined the stable of David Hayes, who recognised potential in the gelding’s stride and attitude. Under Hayes, the horse developed rapidly. Each run in Hong Kong reflected further progress, and soon he began matching times usually associated with the region’s quickest sprinter horse. This rise placed him among contenders chasing the top performer in the category, Ka Ying Rising.
Ludwig watched every race from his home in Tolga. Without ever going overseas himself, he was still very much into the Hong Kong races and was changing his mornings and evenings so that he could watch all the races live. It was a bit of a surprise to him as well as a sense of pride to see the new performance of his old sprinter horse at such a high level. In his memory, he used to think so often of the horse’s start on the unpaved tracks in the country, where the only noise was that of hooves running over the wide paddocks and the number of people wasn’t beyond a few locals.
With Tomodachi Kokoroe likely facing one of his most difficult tests, Ludwig decided to be there himself. The relocation uproots him from his peaceful village to one of the world’s most packed race tracks. It really is a voyage of firsts: first passport, first time at an international airport, and first time watching a race in a foreign country. He mentions that the entire situation is beyond his capacity, but the idea of not being there at such a crucial moment for the sprinter that he was not able to let go of. The upcoming horse racing event at Sha Tin next will provide him with the chance to see with his own eyes how far the horse has gone after departing Australia.
For Ludwig, this journey is not just a travel milestone. It represents a link between the quiet routines of regional training and the bright stage of professional racing overseas. His connection to Tomodachi Kokoroe is built on years of early morning work, patient conditioning and careful handling. While the horse’s development continued under Hayes, Ludwig’s early foundation remains a vital part of the story, making this upcoming horse racing occasion even more meaningful.
Hayes has often spoken about the gelding’s attitude and work ethic. Those qualities trace back to the steady approach Ludwig used in Tolga. Horses raised in smaller racing communities often learn to rely on simple routines and close human contact. For Tomodachi Kokoroe, this background provided a calm base from which he was able to take on the intense pace of Hong Kong racing.
As race day nears, Ludwig’s excitement grows. He looks forward to walking into the grandstand and hearing the crowd as the sprinter horses move onto the track. The shift from quiet country settings to the scale of Sha Tin is significant, yet he remains focused on the horse rather than the environment. Whether the gelding places, wins or finishes midfield, Ludwig takes satisfaction in witnessing the moment himself.
Tomodachi Kokoroe’s progress also highlights the broader story of Australian horses making their mark overseas. Many begin in small communities similar to Tolga before advancing to competitive circuits abroad. Ludwig’s involvement offers a reminder that major racing stories often trace back to humble beginnings with people who invest time and attention long before success becomes visible.
As the trip begins, Ludwig carries only modest expectations. He wants to see the horse healthy, competitive and ready for the challenge. For him, the result is secondary to the chance to be there in person. His progression is a mirror of his individual dedication and the bond that is typical of a trainer and a sprinter horse, which lasts even after the change of the official command.
It would be a far-off journey compared to what he thought possible when Ludwig comes to sit at Sha Tin. Yet the motivation behind it remains simple: a rural trainer wanting to support a horse that once galloped along his home track. If Tomodachi Kokoroe adds another strong run to his record, Ludwig will see it not from a television in Far North Queensland but from the heart of one of the sport’s busiest venues, witnessing a chapter he helped begin many years ago.
