Mickael Barzalona bookended a dominant performance in the LONGINES International Jockeys Championship (IJC) with victories in the first and last legs of the four-race challenge to become the third French rider to lift the trophy following Christophe Lemaire (2009) and Olivier Peslier (1998 & 2006). 

Barzalona got off the the perfect start when dropping top weight Sergeant Pepper’s head on the line to land the 1st Leg, depriving William Buick in the final stride to kick off with a maximum 12 points, run over 1000m.

Thirty minutes later the 33-year-old might have made almost certain of claiming the lion’s share of the HK$1 million prize fund when charging to the front aboard Forever Glorious in the 2nd Leg over 1650m.

But James McDonald showed all the quality expected from a rider who will be crowned the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey for a second time here on Friday night (6 December), driving Douglas Whyte-trained Prince Alex  score by a head, with Colin Keane closing fastest of all to claim third on Sure Joyful in the 3rd Leg over 1650m.

Neither Barzalona nor McDonald was able to add to their tally in leg three where it was Hollie Doyle’s turn to shine as Soleil Fighter held off the cavalry in yet another tight finish.

Going to post for the final leg, four other jockeys were in with a chance of at least matching Barzalona’s score of 18 points, with Karis Teetan and Buick both hoping for a maximum haul and for none of other race winners to add to their tallies. 

But Barzalona put the matter beyond doubt as Pierre Ng-trained Aurora Lady drew steadily clear of his rivals and the Happy Valley faithful were able to cheer their new LONGINES IJC champion before he hit the line in the 4th Leg over 1200m. 

Reflecting on how he had been able to gain priceless early momentum with Sergeant Pepper and Forever Glorious, Barzalona said: “It was very important to get points on the board quickly and I also felt I’d scored well with horses that were perhaps not among my better chances of the evening. It just all unfolded perfectly.”

While Aurora Lady had plenty of support at odds of 6/1 heading into the last, Barzalona was left with the task of negotiating a path from out in stall 12. 

“Pierre was quite confident in Aurora Lady’s chances after he disappointed at Sha Tin last time when things didn’t work out,” said Barzalona. “He’s been unlucky a couple of times recently and given we were drawn wide he told me to try and get forward as long as they didn’t go mad early on.  I trusted my horse and he didn’t let me down.”

Barzalona is yet to taste victory in any of the four LONGINES Hong Kong International Races but he will arrive at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 December) with the wind in his sails ahead of his ride aboard Marquisat in the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), and hopeful he can improve on a second placed effort in the 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on outsider Jolly Banner.

When told that he had joined his illustrious compatriots Peslier and Lemaire on the LONGINES IJC honours board, Barzalona said: “It’s a hyper-competitive jockeys challenge and when you see the major names up there on the roll of honour, I’m delighted to have mine alongside.”

McDonald and Doyle shared second place overall, with neither able to add to their 12-point wins, while Keane and Vincent Ho were the only other jockeys to register two scoring efforts across the four legs. 

Reflecting on his narrow success aboard Prince Alex for Douglas Whyte after the 2nd leg, McDonald said: “It was nice to get one home and do it for Dougie as well. It was a tough effort from the horse who is in career-best form, and it was nice to capitalise.”

McDonald’s mount in the final leg, Chateauneuf went off the 3/1 favourite but after getting a nice draft into the race was unable to go with Aurora Lady.

Doyle also knew her fate early in the decider as Goko Win required rousting from an early stage and beat only one rival home.

But it was clear from the moment the jockeys were introduced during the opening ceremony that she has become a major fan favourite at the Valley among the visiting stars, and her hard-fought victory on Soleil Fighter for David Hayes was a popular one.

“I think David gave me my first winner in the LONGINES IJC so it’s nice to get him another one,” said Doyle. “The horse was very tough; he does need things to fall right but they did.”

Pierre Ng took home the HK$300,000 bonus for leading trainer, a third placing with Aestheticism in leg three making the difference over the other heat winners, Me Tsui, Whyte and Hayes.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 December) with the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.