Bowman, Teetan snare IJC berths as Cruz slots Happy Valley quartet
Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan clinched the final two places in the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on December 4 as Tony Cruz celebrated his best meeting of the 2024/25 season with a quartet at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Bowman, who won the IJC in 2016, returns for the seventh time, while 2019 IJC champion Teetan will compete for the sixth time in the 12-jockey competition after surviving Matthew Poon’s challenge for the final spot in the lucrative series.
The pair joins fellow Hong Kong-based jockeys Zac Purton, who qualifies for the IJC as last season’s Hong Kong’s champion rider, and Vincent Ho, who last year created history by becoming the first homegrown Hong Kong rider to win the IJC.
The quartet will compete against an illustrious cast of international rivals – Ryan Moore, William Buick, James McDonald, Colin Keane, Yuga Kawada, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King and Mickael Barzalona – in the four-race series, where jockeys receive 12 points for a win, six points for second and four points for third across four races at Happy Valley next month.
The series boasts total prize of HK$1 million (approx. AU$1,980,250). The winner receives HK$600,000 (approx. AU$118,800), while second and third collect HK$250,000 (approx. AU$49,500) and HK$150,000 (approx. AU$29,700), respectively.
With Purton a clearcut leader of the 2024/25 Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 40 wins and Ho (16 wins)assured his place as defending IJC champion, the final two places were decided on the jockeys’ championship standings after tonight’s standings.
Bowman (19) was comfortably placed before the meeting and, while unable to add to his tally, duly secured his spot, while Teetan (15 wins) staved off Poon (14) with Take Action’s (Sacred Falls) fighting victory in the first section of the Class 4 Yuen Long Handicap (1650m) for John Size.
“I’m thankful for all the support I get. Without the support of people of like Mr Size, you cannot have any success,” Teetan said.
“The IJC, all the guys want to ride in it. It’s always a fantastic night organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and you just want to be part of it. I’ve ridden in a few of them, so I know how it feels – it’s very exciting.”
Bowman said: “It’s a huge honour. This is the first time to represent Hong Kong. I was injured last year and couldn’t take my place. It’s a wonderful night. It’s a great showcase of international racing and it’s the benchmark of jockey challenges around the world, in my opinion.
“To be part of it once again is a huge privilege.”
Cruz dominated tonight’s meeting with a quartet.
“I’m very happy, the stable is going very well,” Cruz said. “The horses seemed to enjoy the softer track tonight.”
The veteran handler first struck with former Australian galloper Viva Graciousness (Deep Field), who notched a maiden win in Hong Kong with success in the second section of the Class 4 Kwu Tung Handicap (1650m) under Matthew Chadwick. Formerly known as Bulikov when trained by Robert Heathcote in Queensland, the Deep Field (Northern Meteor) gelding was having his 14th start in Hong Kong.
Cruz’s double came via Lovero (Lord Kanaloa), who was second past the post under Angus Chung but was awarded the Class 3 Hung Shui Kiu Handicap (1650m) after an objection was lodged against Super Unicorn (Savabeel), ridden by Purton, for a late shift.
Brenton Avdulla chimed in with the third leg of Cruz’s treble, surging late to land the Class 2 Chek Lap Kok Handicap (1200m) before Chung guided Gustosisimo (Exceed And Excel) to victory in the Class 3 Fanling Handicap (1200m) to present dual Hong Kong champion trainer Cruz with his 14th win of the campaign.
A three-time winner in Australia, Exceed And Excel (Danehill) gelding Gustosisimo earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million (approx. AU$2,970,370) for the breakthrough success.
McDonald followed a Group 2 double at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) on Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) with the first Happy Valley brace of his short-term stint. The New Zealander scored aboard Storming Dragon (Star Turn) in the Class 4 Hong Kong Institute Of Surveyors 40th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1200m) for compatriot Jamie Richards before partnering Danny Shum-trained Yee Cheong Spirit (War) in the Class 4 San Tin Handicap (1200m).
Luke Ferraris and Mark Newnham teamed up for their sixth win of the season together when Super Charizzard (U S Navy Flag) capitalised on barrier one to clinch the Class 5 Kai Tak Handicap (1200m).
“This horse was probably overdue for a win, but he’d never really pulled a good barrier until now so he got the gun run, the run opened up for him and he got a saloon passage through,” Ferraris said.
“This win will do his confidence the world of good – he lacks of bit of confidence – but credit to Mark and his team.”
Chris So and Keagan De Melo combined with Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) gelding Cervin to land the Class 5 Lau Fau Shan Handicap (1650m).