Karis Teetan continued to enhance his best-ever season and collected a treble aboard Yee Cheong Lucky, True Legend and Falcon Turbo at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
“It’s been a fantastic day but I had horses with chances again, and of course that’s most important,” he said, after he steered the Douglas Whyte-trained Falcon Turbo in the Class 3 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap (1200m).
Karis Teetan returns on Falcon Turbo (Pic – HKJC)
“This winner has done it nicely, and thanks to Dougie for giving me support,” Teetan said. “It’s been a top day, we’re towards the end of the season but I’ve still got to have focus right to the end; I hope the winners keep coming and I’m looking forward to next season.
His single-minded approach was evident from the start when the Mauritian teamed with long-time backer Tony Millard in the opener. Yee Cheong Lucky powered away down the straight to take the Class 5 Racing Goes On Handicap (1200m, dirt) by three and a quarter lengths.
Teetan then rated True Legend perfectly from the front and the Frankie Lor-trained gelding had enough in reserve to hold off the attentions of the Moreira-ridden Monkey Jewellery.
Columbus County struck a blow for Zac Purton and this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby crop with a victory full of promise in the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap.
Purton saw title rival Joao Moreira bag a brace that ate into his championship lead in the first half of the card, but hit back in the feature to hold an end-of-day advantage of 138 wins to the Brazilian’s 133.
“Zac and Joao both ride a lot of horses for me and I wish them both the best,” Columbus County’s trainer Caspar Fownes said.
“Right now, Zac has the advantage, especially with Joao having a one-meeting suspension coming up next week, but Hong Kong racing is so tough that for both of them to get the number of winners they’ve achieved so far is incredible.
Caspar Fownes (Pic – HKJC)
“I wish both of them the best; hopefully it can go down to the last day and may the best man win.”
Columbus County belatedly broke his Hong Kong maiden at the seventh attempt, having performed a shade disappointingly when ninth to Golden Sixty in the BMW Hong Kong Derby back in March. Fownes’ four-year-old is only the second horse out of the blue riband to have won a race subsequently, but both handler and rider hold positive expectations for the future.
“He’s typical of PPs (Privately Purchased horses) coming here on a high rating, they take a bit of time to acclimatize sometimes,” Purton noted.
“He didn’t quite measure up in the Derby but he had a nice little break and seems to have come back better. He still feels like hasn’t developed properly so I think there’s more there.”
- Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, 5 July.
