Alexis Badel and Neil Callan join Zac Purton, Joao Moreira, Karis Teetan and Vincent Ho as Hong Kong’s representatives for the 2020 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, 9 December.
Neil Callan – set for a happy end to 2020 (Pic -HKJC)
Badel and Callan join the line-up as the fifth and sixth-placed eligible riders with the most wins on the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship table at of the conclusion of Wednesday’s Happy Valley race meeting, with 17 and 11 wins respectively.
The HK$800,000 LONGINES IJC is a four-race competition for 12 elite jockeys, and this year’s edition features six overseas riders and six based in Hong Kong, all battling for the HK$500,000 top prize, the most lucrative jockeys’ challenge winner’s cheque in the world.
The list of this year’s invitees for the LONGINES IJC was announced on 18 November, and against Hong Kong’s team of six is an exciting overseas cast, featuring Ryan Moore, Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle, William Buick, Pierre-Charles Boudot and Mickael Barzalona.
List of invited jockeys for 2020 LONGINES IJC
- Reigning IJC Champion
Karis Teetan
2019 IJC winner. Cape champion apprentice (2008).
- Hong Kong Champion Jockey
Zac Purton
2017 IJC winner. Four-time champion jockey in Hong Kong (2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20). Brisbane Champion Jockey (2003 – when still an apprentice).
- Britain
Ryan Moore
Two-time winner of both the IJC (2009 and 2010) and LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award (2014 and 2016). Three-time British champion jockey (2006, 2008 and 2009)
- Britain
William Buick
Joint British champion apprentice (2008). Second in the 2020 British Flat racing jockeys’ championship.
- Britain
Tom Marquand
British champion apprentice (2015). Competing in first IJC this year.
- Britain
Hollie Doyle
Set a new record for most wins by a female jockey in a British calendar year (129 wins as of 17 November). Competing in first IJC this year.
- France
Pierre-Charles Boudot
Two-time champion jockey in France (2015 and 2016). Third in the 2017 IJC.
- France
Mickael Barzalona
Teenage winner of the G1 Derby at Epsom in 2011 and has since enhanced his reputation, notably riding for Andre Fabre and Godolphin.
- Hong Kong
Joao Moreira
Hong Kong premiership leader as of 18 November. Three-time Hong Kong champion jockey (2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17) and multiple record holder including most wins in a season (170). Winner of the 2012 IJC.
- Hong Kong
Vincent Ho
Hong Kong’s leading homegrown jockey as of 18 November. 2010/11 Hong Kong Champion Apprentice. 2018/19 and 2019/20 Tony Cruz Award winner.
- Hong Kong
Alexis Badel
Fifth-highest ranked eligible Hong Kong jockey as of 25 November. France’s Champion Apprentice (2007).
- Hong Kong
Neil Callan
Sixth-highest ranked eligible Hong Kong jockey as of 25 November. UK Champion Apprentice (1999)
