Last weekend we were able to see one of Europe's top rising stars in action on Hong Kong soil, as Mickael Barzalona began his one-month riding stint at Sunday's mixed-surface meeting at Sha Tin. He initially had six mounts in the ten races, which is a very encouraging level of support from our trainers. He got two more runners from those jockey substitutions made during races, meaning that he got eight rides that day. Mickael managed to open his Hong Kong winning account with St Didar in the final race on the all-weather track. It was a very impressive performance, and his riding skills shone clearly through in the final stages.
I learnt from his interpreter that Mickael spent the whole of Saturday night studying the form of his runners and main rivals, watching the video replays of their previous starts. That illustrates this young rider's dedication to the job, and it definitely seems to have paid off. Let's hope he can maintain the same good form for the rest of his month's stay with us.
Also over the past weekend, some of the world's top jockeys competed in two international jockeys' championships spanning both hemispheres, in Japan and Mauritius. In the 25th World Super Jockeys Series hosted by the Japan Racing Association, Hong Kong was represented by Brett Prebble who finished a creditable 9th. In the end, it was Irish champion jockey John Murtagh who stormed through to win the title in the final leg of the four-race series.
John has now moved on to Hong Kong to participate in our own international riders' event, the Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley tonight, and this Japan win may well be a good omen for him, as last year Ryan Moore won the same series in Japan and then followed it up with an emphatic success in Hong Kong. 
Whatever the final outcome, though, it looks set to be a really exciting battle once again, as we have a bunch of top-class jockeys from all over the world lined up to do battle, and no less than half of them are champion jockeys in their respective countries or regions.
Yesterday afternoon I attended an event with the participating jockeys and they all looked in great shape, very eager to get into the racing action. As part of their preparation, a few of them walked the Happy Valley turf track to get a better understanding of its condition, and all appeared to take a very serious attitude to the contest. It's an exceptional field of riders and I think we are going to see a very absorbing contest.
Let me remind you that because of this major event, our first race tonight will start a bit earlier than usual at 7 pm. We have lots of exciting on-course attractions, too, so bring all your friends to Happy Valley racecourse tonight. It promises to be a fantastic evening, getting our International Races Week off to a memorable start.
The first leg of the CXIJC is a Class 4 event over 1650m. It’s expected to be run at a good to slow pace. I would not be surprised that it is even more on the slow side which would favour horses in the front of the field. Reason for the pace expected to be on the slow side is because a number of our international jockeys are not getting used to the fierce pace of Hong Kong racing in the beginning of the race. This race is very open. The expected leaders are Travel Guide with Frankie Dettori and Joyful Winner II with James McDonald on board, which both have a good chance to win the race. My first choice is Lucky Chevalier with Andrasch Starke in the saddle, with Something Special with Ryan Moore on board being the main danger.
The second leg is also a Class 4 event over the same distance, but the pace should be more on the good side. With all horses used to run on the pace have drawn wide barriers, they will be forced to push forward to get to their favourite positions. Bespoke Master with Brett Prebble as well as Bumper Strike with Starke on the mount will start from Gate 10 and 11. For Bumper Strike, despite his bad draw, I think he still has a nice top-three chance in this event. My pick of the race is Easy Ahead to be ridden by our champion jockey Douglas Whyte, who should be well positioned behind the leaders. If Romancing Tamar can get a good position behind the leaders and is not caught wide, he is for me another good chance with Dettori on board. Mighty K with Matthew Chadwick on the mount will make his first start at the Valley. He will have to come from the back of the field but I believe he is an improving horse coming to his best.
The third leg run as Race 6 is at the same distance but a Class 3, which again should see a good to slow pace with advantage for horses in the front of the field. My Goal with Japanese jockey Yuichi Fukunaga and Ambitious Treasure to be ridden by Dettori should take the lead, especially the latter horse which I think he has a good chance in this race. For Kick Serve, despite his draw in 12, he will be partnered by Whyte as the jockey and I think he has a good chance to win or be placed, as well as the old warrior Great Achievement with Murtagh on board.
The last leg run will be run as a Class 3 event at the same distance, too, with a pace that should be more on the good side. Win A Dozen with Fukunaga on board will go forward, but he is not in good form at the moment. But Lucky Warrior with Christophe Lemaire on the mount is totally different. This runner is for me the horse to beat in this race, while Tres Magnifique with Maxime Guyon on the saddle has a good chance, too. Jimson The Best should give Starke a good chance to rack up some points coming from midfield, while Dettori’s mount Regency Winner is working very well recently and will come with a strong finish from the back of the field.
With my analysis, I believe it will now be easier for you to figure out which jockey is in my view the one with best chance to win tonight’s championship. Anyway, I hope you all much enjoyed our races at the Valley tonight. See you there!!
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