Teetan challenges

Sunday’s race meeting at Sha Tin is being seen as a breakthrough moment for jockey Karis Teetan, with his treble for trainer Tony Cruz possibly crucial to setting up a very successful season.

“The Mauritian has a couple of key things going for him – he rides light and he is incredibly likeable (on top of being a really good jockey, but that goes without saying),” said South China Morning Post columnist Tom Biddington.

Finishing third in the jockeys’ championship last season was good timing – with former champion rider Joao Moreira departing for Japan, people looked at the table and saw current champion Zac Purton on top and Teetan next in line.

That is how Teetan got the ride on Hong Kong star horse Pakistan Star: Cruz and owner Kerm Din looked at the roster, discussed who was available and selected him.

That opened the door to work more with Cruz – a stable he only had two wins with in the five seasons prior – and he will get even more opportunities after riding the treble for him on Sunday.

Trainers and owners are the ones who ultimately decide who wins the Hong Kong jockey championship as they dictate who rides the best horses.

Teetan now has support from the three leading stables – John Size, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen and Cruz – and that should ensure he has a career-best season. –