Just being able to ride on the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) undercard was an achievement for Karis Teetan 12 months ago.

This year, the Mauritian jockey has his sights firmly set on a second victory in the main event.

With 18 victories to his name ahead of the final qualifying meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Teetan has a mortgage on one of the IJC spots handed to the top three in the Hong Kong premiership.

“There’s one more meeting to go, but it’s nice to get back in the IJC again, especially after last season,” said Teetan, who returned from nearly three months sidelined with a thyroid condition on IJC night last December.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back amongst it. It’s a great evening, and who wouldn’t want to ride in such a fantastic event against some of the world’s finest jockeys?

“It will be a great experience again, and let’s hope I can do well and get some points. It’s a night all the jockeys in Hong Kong look forward to.

“I’m just glad things are going smoothly now, and I’m thankful for everybody’s support.”

While Teetan, who tasted IJC glory with a narrow victory over Ryan Moore in 2019, is guaranteed his spot in the prestigious competition on December 6, he has little idea what his Hong Kong International Races hand will look like later that week.

“I’m just hoping to pick up something, but it’s so hard. All of the good horses in Hong Kong have their jockeys already, and now with James [McDonald] coming, he will pick up a few. But I’m hoping to pick up something,” Teetan said.

Teetan has a full book at Happy Valley tonight, however, and he is hoping to find immediate returns aboard Douglas Whyte’s last-start winner, Zoom Boom.

Victorious on November 1 despite wobbling around late in his second start back following 19 months out with a tendon injury, Zoom Boom jumps in grade for the Class Three High Island Handicap (1,200m).

“It was a nice win last time, even after he got a bit of interference. He laid in, but he still looked like he quickened up and won a nice race. Douglas says he thinks the horse is improving, so it’s a nice pickup ride for me,” Teetan said after inheriting the assignment from the suspended Angus Chung Yik-lai.

Happy Valley ‘could pose a bit of a problem’ for airborne Sha Tin specialist

“If you look at his past runs, even at Sha Tin, he ran some good races behind some decent young horses, so I think he’s a progressive horse.

“If his last race has brought him some confidence like Douglas thinks, I think even from the outside gate, he can be competitive with a nice weight on his back.”

Teetan also partners Fighting Star, Splendid Star, Master Tornado, Prosperous Smile, Fortune President, High Percentage and Quantum Patch at the midweek fixture.