Hong Kong representative Karis Teetan was unable to notch a win on the second and final day of the JRA World All-Star Jockeys series at Sapporo Racecourse, Japan today (Sunday, 25 August), but a creditable second in the third leg helped him finish joint third behind eventual winner Yuga Kawada. 

Teetan had scored 31 points in Saturday’s two heats to sit joint-second at the half-way point. In the third leg over 1700m on dirt today, the Mauritian rider settled his mount Realist ahead of mid-field after a good jump from gate five. Turning to the homestraight Teetan moved to outside and his mount accelerated well. Race winner Suave Aramis, ridden by French star Mickaelle Michel, never looked under threat but Realist finished clear of other rivals to run second, beaten by two lengths.

That second left Teetan in second place ahead of the final leg, a turf race over 1800m. However, Teetan’s ride Jo Book Kommen could only finish ninth. In total, he amassed 53 points in the series to finish level with Michel. The victorious Kawada scored 70 points to take the overall title, thanks to his win atop Precious Blue in the final leg. Christophe Lemaire was runner-up with 58 points.

In the team contest, Team JRA took the plaudits with an overall tally of 246 points to Team World All-Stars 202 points.