There is no better way to go into a big race than by riding a hatful of winners when last in the saddle and Karis Teetan is heading into the Classic Cup meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday at the peak of his powers.
Fresh from a four-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Teetan is approaching the fixture full of confidence now he has fully recovered from a couple of falls earlier in the season.
“Things have picked up a lot now,” Teetan said. “You must remember I had two falls this season. Even though they were not serious, I had a minor shoulder injury that I battled with for a while.
“I even had to take a few meetings off so that stopped my momentum a bit and I was hoping that all my seconds would turn into winners.
“But now I feel like I’m back to myself, I’m 100 per cent and I can do all my work I need to do before I go racing. You can see now that the results are getting better so I’m really happy with how the next half of the season will turn out.”
Teetan was searching for a partner heading into this season’s four-year-old series and benefited from the choices made by two of Hong Kong’s leading jockeys, picking up the plum ride on the unbeaten Romantic Warrior in the Classic Mile.
“I was going toward the Classic Mile and I did not have a strong horse confirmed,” Teetan said.
“I was waiting to see what Zac [Purton] and Joao [Moreira] would do and if any ride would be available and I was lucky enough to ride him in the Mile and win on him.”
Romantic Warrior was a stylish winner of the Classic Mile, swooping past front-runner California Spangle late on, but Teetan may have to be at his very best to replicate that victory with his mount being handed a difficult draw in stall 13.
“Last time, he was very impressive and he’s definitely one of the horses progressing nicely,” Teetan said.
Romantic Warrior remains unbeaten with brilliant Classic Mile victory
“He’s taken his last run very well. I’ve sat on him a few times in work and he’s showing us good signs all the time, so there’s lots of positives about him.
“We had a sweet run last time from a good draw but things are going to be a bit harder this time from stall 13. It’s a long back straight at Sha Tin and we’re just going to have to come up with a plan – me and [trainer] Danny [Shum Chap-shing] – and then ride him from there.”
While Romantic Warrior has been handed a tough outside draw, the conquered California Spangle has been handed a kinder barrier in stall six and Teetan is sure of the way the race will be run.
“California Spangle, with his natural speed, is going to have to be forward and I think Ima Single Man will also have some speed,” Teetan said.
“I’m going to go through the race but Romantic Warrior is the type of horse who needs to be where he is comfortable and not being forced to do anything. He knows what to do in the last 200m. He doesn’t try to over-race and he’s got a nice, strong turn of foot and this is his big advantage.”
If he maintains his unbeaten record in the Classic Cup, Romantic Warrior is likely to head into the Derby as a warm favourite and Teetan has no doubts that he’ll stay the distance.
“Last time after I jumped off him, I told Danny that even going the Derby trip would not be a problem for him. He’s just such a laid-back horse, he’s a good-natured horse and so relaxed,” the Mauritian said.
