By Leo Schlink

Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan have clinched the final two places in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on 4 December as Tony Cruz celebrated his best meeting of the 2024/25 season with a quartet at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (20 November).

Bowman, who won the IJC in 2016, returns for the seventh time, while 2019 IJC champion Teetan will compete for the sixth time in the 12-jockey competition after surviving Matthew Poon’s challenge for the final spot in the lucrative series.

A stunning collection of world-class horses led by Romantic Warrior, Ka Ying Rising, Goliath, Liberty Island, Voyage Bubble, Antino, Without A Fight, California Spangle and Galaxy Patch highlights 56 gallopers from Hong Kong, Japan, Great Britain, Australia, France, Ireland, Germany and the United States of America chosen for the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 8 December.

By Tom Peacock

Enough of an established name to have been invited to the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) as far back as six years ago, Colin Keane nonetheless returns to Hong Kong in 2024 at a time when his stock has never been higher.

From his two previous visits for the prestigious competition, the 30-year-old has managed to familiarise himself with Happy Valley enough to have reached the winner’s enclosure on a couple of occasions and finished in the overall runner-up spot behind Silvestre de Sousa on his 2018 debut.

The line-up for the 2024 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on 4 December will be finalised at the conclusion of tomorrow night’s (Wednesday, 20 November) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley with Karis Teetan and Matthew Poon fighting for the coveted final spot.

The last two positions on the 12-rider roster are open this year to the next highest-ranked riders locally and, with Hugh Bowman (19 wins) wrapping up the first slot, Teetan and Poon are locked in battle for the remaining berth.

Paul Lally:

R1: 8-12-11-6
R2: 11-10-2-1
R3: 1-3-6-2
R4: 9-11-1-3
R5: 2-1-11-6
R6: 5-4-6-10
R7: 7-2-9-12
R8: 4-7-11-9
R9: 5-8-11-6

Best Bet: R7 N7 Silo
Longshot: R4 N9 Star Line
Plays: R9 QQP 5-6-8

Nick Child:

R1: 10-4-5-12
R2: 6-1-2-10
R3: 3-6-2-5
R4: 11-5-1-4
R5: 1-2-6-4
R6: 1-4-5-2
R7: 9-12-7-8
R8: 4-7-9-8
R9: 3-2-8-5

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, November 20, 2024)

By Declan Schuster

Voyage Bubble claimed top seed among the local hopes for next month’s HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) with victory in Sunday’s (17 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin.

By Leo Schlink

Champion stayer Romantic Warrior’s imperious G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) has laid the foundations for Danny Shum’s ambitious 2024/25 campaign, crowned by a bid for a third consecutive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victory next month.

Extending his current winning streak to six, Romantic Warrior (128lb) claimed his second BOCHK Jockey Club Cup with a commanding performance under James McDonald, defeating Ka Ying Generation (123lb) and Nimble Nimbus (123lb) in 1m 59.70s.

By Daryl Timms

Ka Ying Rising’s irresistible surge towards Group 1 glory continued at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) when David Hayes’ emerging champion sprinter powered to victory in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), breaking Sacred Kingdom’s long-standing track record.

Clocking 1m 07.43s despite being eased down over the last 100m by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising improved his overall record to eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts and took a stranglehold on the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 8 December.

By Leo Schlink

Danny Shum has sounded an ominous warning over Romantic Warrior’s form and fitness ahead of the champion’s highly anticipated return in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November).