Hong Kong-based riders Karis Teetan and Alexis Badel got off to a slow start in the 2025 World All-Star Jockeys series at Sapporo Racecourse in Japan on Saturday (23 August), lodging results that left them 10th and 12th, respectively, after the first two legs of the competition.

In Race 10, the 2025 World All-Star Jockeys first leg (1200m), Teetan partnered outsider Sculptoris and worked into the race from midfield but couldn’t find any kick from his mount before finishing seventh. “She broke smoothly and was able to sit in a good position,” Teetan said. “The outcome could have been better if we had drawn an inner stall.” Badel’s mount On The Blue Sky boxed on for eighth after travelling handily but finding little late.

The second leg (Race 11, 2000m) offered scant respite for the Hong Kong duo. Teetan, aboard the well-fancied Namura Hooker, settled off the speed but could not quicken when the pressure was on, fading to eighth. “The colt gave his best,” Teetan said. “It was a smooth trip, but he lacked the necessary finishing speed. A larger track might be more suitable for him.” Badel, aboard Sam Hunter, had to settle for 11th after tracking the leading group all the way around before finding nothing in the finish.

Those returns placed Teetan 10th and Badel 12th in the overnight standings, leaving both with ground to make up ahead of Sunday’s (24 August) concluding legs with two heats remaining to decide the individual and team titles.

Badel, however, enjoyed brighter moments elsewhere on Saturday’s card, extending what has been a richly rewarding summer stint in Japan. The Frenchman opened the meeting with a commanding success aboard odds-on favourite Strawberry Tree in the opening race, a two-year-old maiden over 1800m. Badel dictated the pace in a hugely impressive all-the-way triumph, surging clear in the home straight to win by three and a half lengths.

Later, he delivered a standout ride in the feature race of the day, the Clover Sho (1500m), producing Storm Thunder with perfect timing to streak away by four lengths, sealing a memorable double.

Badel will take seven further rides on Sunday, while Teetan also boasts a healthy book with nine engagements across the Sapporo card.

At the conclusion of the first day of the event, German rider Thore Hammer-Hansen held sway in the individual standings on 42 points, ahead of Japan’s Ryusei Sakai (31) and Argentina’s Francisco Goncalves (28). BMW Hong Kong Derby-winning rider Craig Williams of Australia occupied fourth position with 21 points.

The strong performances of Hammer-Hansen and Goncalves in particular put Team WAS (World All-Stars) in the driving seat in the team competition, leading Team JRA by 122 to 102. Team JRA have won each of the last eight editions of the team event.

The World All-Star Jockeys pits Team JRA against the World All-Stars, mixing local aces with international talent in a format that rewards consistency as much as headline wins.