A brace, achieved in some style at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, lifted Karis Teetan to 20 wins for the term, three shy of premiership leader Zac Purton who took the last on the Manfred Man-trained Jade Theatre, the 2.5 favourite.
Teetan made plain his delight when the Ting-trained Trendiful made all to land race four, the Class 5 Lyric Ace Handicap (1200m), rising in the irons and saluting the win half a dozen strides before the line.
“It was for Jimmy (Ting) – it’s always nice to get a ride like that for a guy who is doing well and I appreciate him giving me a chance. Every win is good but when you win for a guy doing well you hope you can pick up a few more rides for him,” The Mauritian said.
That length and three-quarter score brought a double for the in-form Ting stable after Glory Star’s win.
Teetan enjoyed an even easier success two races later in the Class 4 Windicator Handicap (1200m). Blitzing led the field for a three-length win at odds of 1.7. That gave the rider his ninth success of the term in tandem with trainer Tony Cruz.
“He’s a lovely horse, he seems like he’s taken a step forward,” Teetan said. “His last win was good but he felt like a different horse today – he led the race but he was so relaxed and when I pressed the button he responded and there was some in the tank. The feel he gave me was impressive – he’s got good speed and he can still turn it on at the end.”
The best finish of the night came in the penultimate race. Bottom-weight Powermax, trained by Richard Gibson, (116lb) dipped his head at the right moment for jockey Matthew Chadwick to hold off the late charge of top-weight Perfect Glory (133lb) by a nose. The latter, having only his second Hong Kong start, lost his unbeaten tag but reinforced the impression that he is a horse with a bright future.
Douglas Whyte, Hong Kong’s all-time most successful jockey, took his tally to 1,799 wins when the David Ferraris-trained Electric Lightning bagged race three.
Apprentice Victor Wong got out in front and was never headed on Giant Turtle in race two, scoring for his boss Tony Millard.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Sunday, 28 October.
Karis Teetan salutes trainer Jimmy Ting, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
