SA Champion Apprentice of 2008, and another outstanding product of the SA Jockey Academy, Karis Teetan will be the defending champion and only patriotic interest for us in the Longines International Jockeys’ Challenge, which remains the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world and the most lucrative for the winning rider.
Gavin Lerena winning the Longines International Jockeys’ Challenge in 2015
Gavin Lerena won the competition in 2015 but there have sadly been no invites forthcoming in recent years for South African jockeys.
Teetan won it last year.
The only two counries with outside participants this year are Britain and France.
In rand terms at current rates of exchange, the winner banks a few rand short of R1 million.
The four 2020 races in early December are worth a combined HK$6 million in prize money, which represents a 20% increase for the designated races.
Meanwhile, a total prize fund of HK$800,000 in bonus money for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$500,000, and second and third HK$200,000 and HK$100,000, respectively.
The four-race competition works on a points-based system with 12 points for a winner, six points for second place and four points for a third. The ranking of each jockey will be determined by the total number of points earned over all four races and the IJC champion will be the jockey with the highest accumulated points.
Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Racing, said: “This year’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship has all the factors in place to be a classic edition… The Hong Kong Jockey Club has succeeded again in putting together an outstanding cast of riders and we are looking forward to a great night of sport set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic racecourses in the world.”
The following riders will compete:
- Reigning IJC Champion
Karis Teetan
- Hong Kong Champion Jockey
Zac Purton
- Britain
Ryan Moore
William Buick .
Tom Marquand
Hollie Doyle
- France
Pierre-Charles Boudot
Mickael Barzalona
- Hong Kong
Joao Moreira
Vincent Ho
Also included are the top two ranking riders as of 25 November.
