IT was close but no cigar for Ryan Moore as he just missed out on the International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley.
The Ballydoyle number one was neck-and-neck with local hero Karis Teetan throughout, but the man known as the ‘Mauritian Magician’ grabbed a third in the last to take home the trophy.
Moore started the evening in perfect style, winning on his first two rides.
The latter of those on Flying Genius was in the first leg of the competition as he landed the first 12 points on offer.
Teetan struck back in the next as he drove home Dream Warriors to win and he clinched it with a third in the last on High Rev to win by two points.
It sets Moore up nicely for an exciting book of rides on Sunday at Sha Tin highlighted by the Aidan O’Brien pair of Anthony Van Dyck and Magic Wand.
Teetan smiled: “I still can’t believe I’ve won this challenge. I knew I had some decent rides but you still need the horses to perform. I was telling my fiance (Xaviere Cottereau) that I was really feeling the pressure.
“It’s just not a normal day up against the world’s best jockeys. I really wanted to do well and I’m glad everything went that way.
“We ride here every week but it’s a different kind of racing when you’re out there against so many good jockeys.
“Even watching Ryan and Frankie (Dettori) riding here we’ll pick up a few things and let’s hope it can help me in the future.”
Irish jock Colin Keane also struck on the card as he timed his run on Flying Quest to perfection and finished on the podium for the second consecutive year. Not bad for only two goes.
And there was no sign of any hangover from the protests that have rocked Hong Kong over the previous months.
An expectant crowd filled Happy Valley and over 140million was bet into the pot across the Island.
With 60,000 going to the winner of a 0-60 on the card, the Tote system is working as well as ever and there’s plenty, as ever, British racing could learn from racing around the globe.
