Karis Teetan’s pain could be Matthew Poon Ming-fai’s gain as their tight battle for the final International Jockeys’ Championship spot goes down to the wire at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Teetan and Poon have one last chance to grab the fourth spot in Hong Kong’s team for the December 4 contest, joining reigning champion jockey Zac Purton and last year’s IJC winner Vincent Ho Chak-yiu as well as Hugh Bowman, who is all but assured of another spot with 19 wins this season.
Tied on 14 wins heading into the final meeting before the IJC line-up is finalised, Teetan and Poon are separated only by seconds with the former holding a decisive 17-10 advantage.
However, the abandonment of last Wednesday’s final three Valley races because of the No 8 typhoon signal in Hong Kong has thrown a spanner in the works, relegating several of Teetan’s rides to the reserve list for Wednesday night’s nine-race card.
That left the Mauritian with only three mounts, while Poon has a solid book of eight including last-start winner Podium and recent placegetters Soleil Fighter, I Give and Eason.
“It looks like things won’t go my way because when the races got abandoned, all those horses got first priority, and I had a full book tomorrow and then all my horses got reserve,” Teetan said.
“So I ended up with three rides, but anyway, I’m hoping those three are chances.
“Every time I ride one [winner], [Poon] rides one. At the end of the day he’s riding well, too, Matthew. If he does get the one [final spot] in IJC, I think he deserves the chance, but I’m also there to give it a go.”
Teetan takes over from Poon on the consistent Can’t Go Wong in the Class Four Kwu Tung Handicap (1,650m), with Poon set to ride Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Smart City.
Can’t Go Wong has been placed in seven of his past nine starts and bids for a second success in Hong Kong.
“I think he’s been racing well for a while now,” Teetan said.
“I thought his last run was a good run. He’s still sort of knocking [on the door] to get his win, but if he gets the right run, it looks like he could get his chance.”
Take Action also has solid claims for Teetan in the Class Four Yuen Long Handicap (1,650m), with the John Size-trained gelding coming off a fast-finishing fifth behind Master Of All at Sha Tin.
“He ran very good at Sha Tin. I think he needs a little further and I think with the draw he’s got [barrier one], it’s going to be a big help, and maybe a bit of cut in the going might help him, too.”
Teetan’s other ride is Cool Blue in the Class Five Lau Fau Shan Handicap (1,650m).
Yoda’s Choice, Speed Sword and Miu Fa Fa round out Poon’s book of rides.
