Hong Kong is renowned for its ‘can-do spirit’ and ‘play to win’ attitude and Karis Teetan is among a string of world-class jockeys and trainers in the city who embodies these qualities.
When Karis ventured to Hong Kong in 2013 as an ambitious 23-year-old from Mauritius, via South Africa, he could have only dreamed of the success he has since enjoyed with multiple Group 1 victories on champions such as ROMANTIC WARRIOR and MR STUNNING.
On Wednesday night (6 November) at Happy Valley, Karis continued a remarkable journey when he became only the sixth jockey in Hong Kong racing history to ride 700 winners in one of the world’s most competitive racing jurisdictions.
For context, Karis now sits alongside Douglas Whyte (1,813), Zac Purton (1,773), Joao Moreira (1,235), Tony Cruz (946) and Brett Prebble (806) as the only riders to achieve 700 winners or more in Hong Kong.
I congratulate Karis on his fantastic achievement, which is a reflection of his incredible discipline and work ethic.
Hong Kong racing continues on Saturday (9 November) at Sha Tin, where the Class 2 Panasonic Cup (1400m) is carded as Race 7 and run at 4.05pm for prizemoney of HK$2.840 million.
The speed will be good with DROMBEG BANNER (Andrea Atzeni) likely to lead from gate three, with BOTTOMUPTOGETHER (Matthew Chadwick) going forward from gate ten to sit outside the leader. SUPERB BOY (Ben Thompson) and PACKING HERMOD (Lyle Hewitson) will settle in the forward division.
RUBYLOT won two of his last three runs last season over this trip and made a winning return when running home strongly to beat BOTTOMUPTOGETHER over 1200m on 28 September. As with several other runners in this race, RUBYLOT is on a path towards the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and is win and place chance for Alexis Badel.
BOTTOMUPTOGETHER won his first three races and has been narrowly beaten in two runs this season over 1200m by RUBYLOT and then WUNDERBAR. He steps to the 1400m for the first time and may have to work a little if, as expected, he goes forward from the start. BOTTOMUPTOGETHER is an emerging star and is also a win and place chance.
PACKING HERMOD is unbeaten in three career starts after resuming with a brilliant win from SUPER INFINITY and ARMOUR WAR EAGLE over 1200m on 20 October. PACKING HERMOD rises in class and extends beyond 1200m for the first time but is a place chance.
GREEN N WHITE is also coming into the race off last-start victory after sprinting quickly in the straight to easily beat SKY TRUST over this course and distance on 20 October. Matthew Poon is in form and takes the ride for the first time. GREEN N WHITE is a place chance from his inside gate.
YOUNG CHAMPION was impressive with successive wins over this trip last season but disappointed when resuming in September and has been at Conghua since. YOUNG CHAMPION looked good in a trial in preparation for his return to racing and is a place chance. Karis Teetan has a wide draw to contend with but YOUNG CHAMPION will be closing late and is a place chance.
This is an outstanding race with several runners having winning chances including last-start winner DROMBEG BANNER, who could be hard to run down if allowed to dictate the pace. SIX PACK caught the eye in his first-up run in Hong Kong and is headed to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and can run well for Harry Bentley.
HARMONY GREAT makes his Hong Kong debut for Danny Shum and Keith Yeung. He was a Group 1 winner in Brazil as a three-year-old and it will be interesting to follow his progress.
On Sunday (10 November), a total of 12 races will be simulcast into Hong Kong from feature meetings in Japan and Germany.
The G1 Queen Elizabeth Cup (2200m) for fillies and mares at Kyoto Racecourse is carded as S1-7 and will be run at 2.40pm.
The pace should be good with CONCH SHELL likely to lead from gate four. SHINRYOKUKA also races close to the front, with STUNNING ROSE and COSTA BONITA going forward to settle near the speed.
Christophe Lemaire has won this race three times and rides REGALEIRA, who ran home strongly against the colts to finish fifth in the Japanese Derby in May. She was a beaten favourite at her only run since over 2000m against fillies in the Rose Stakes when she settled near last and again ran home strongly. REGALEIRA is drawn well in gate seven and, if she settles a little closer to the front, is a win and place chance.
SCINTILLATION ran in Group company for the first time when second to star mare BREDE WEG in the G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes (1800m) on 14 October. SCINTILLATION produced an excellent closing sectional in that race and, with Tom Marquand taking the ride, is also a win and place chance.
WHOLENESS is an emerging staying talent who has won four of her past five races, including the Niigata Himba (2200m) on 20 October. WHOLENESS steps up in grade but should have a good run under Ryusei Sakai from her rails draw and is a place chance.
Ryan Moore rides SALIERA, who ran sixth in this race last year. Her three runs this year have all been against the males and she is capable of sharp improvement and is a place chance.
On Sunday night, our attention turns to Munich Racecourse for the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern (2400m), which is carded as S2-4 and is run at 10.32pm.
Two of the leading chances – MARQUISAT and STRAIGHT – are entered for LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 8 December and their performances in Munich will determine their immediate futures.
This race was won last year by JUNKO for trainer Andre Fabre and rider Mickael Barzalona before they combined to win the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December.
Andre and Mickael combine this year with MARQUISAT, who is entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase and is my win and place selection. MARQUISAT was runner up to JUNKO in the Grand Prix de Chantilly in June when he finished ahead of DUBAI HONOUR and GOLIATH. He had a break and resumed on 20 October, running home well before drifting out under pressure in the last 200m to finish third to GOLIATH and HAMISH.
STRAIGHT is also entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase and won in Italy over 2400m on 13 October. At his previous run, he fought hard when narrowly beaten by REBEL’S ROMANCE at Cologne in September. STRAIGHT is a place chance for Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.
LORDANO was third in that race and has finished in the top three in all four starts this year after winning the German St Leger last season. LORDANO will run well and is a place chance for Rene Piechulek.
Charlie Appleby and William Buick combine with ANCIENT WISDOM who won the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes last year and, after being unplaced in the Epsom Derby in June, won a Group 3 race at Newmarket in July.
ASSISTENT was runner up to JUNKO in this race last year and was an easy winner on heavy ground in easier company last start. Thore Hammer Hansen takes the ride again and ASSISTANT is particularly effective on rain-affected ground and is a place chance, along with ANCIENT WISDOM.
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