South African Jockey Academy graduate Karis Teetan finished a joint third in the World All-Star Jockeys Series in Japan on Sunday as he flew the Bauhinia flag and represented Hong Kong.
The Mauritian Magician was attempting to follow in the footsteps of Dougie Whyte (2004), Zac Purton (2012) and Joao Moreira (2015) and hoped to become the fourth Sha Tin-based jockey to take out the title.
Karis holds the third board as World All-Star Jockeys Series winner Yuga Kawada celebrates
Teetan took on 13 other riders including Irishman Colm O’Donoghue, up-and-coming French jockey Mickaelle Michel, Julien Leparoux (USA) and New Zealander Lisa Allpress, while Christophe Lemaire, Keita Tosaki, Yuga Kawada and Yutaka Take led the way for the locals.
But Teetan had to take a back seat to local rider Yuga Kawada who captured his first and much awaited title this year with a total of 70 points. In his fourth challenge for the title, he bettered his personal best of an overall seventh marked in2011.
Kawada was placed fourth at the end of day one with 30 points after finishing third in the first two legs—with second-pick Ofukuhime and eighth-choice Gold Flag, respectively. He turned in a fifth in the third leg with fifth-favorite Vocazione before determining his overall victory by claiming the final leg with sixth-pick Precious Blue.
Karis Teetan said that he was very happy to be there and on this podium. “I did well and dead-heated with Mickaelle Michel. I was happy to represent Hong Kong. I hope I’ll be able to come back.”
Mickaelle Michel said that she was really happy and honoured to be there as a representative of France and all female jockeys.
