European jockeys dominated the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy
Valley in Honk Kong Wednesday night with a clean-sweep of victories in the
three-leg competition.
Top French rider Christophe Lemaire, John Murtagh and Ryan Moore, the Irish
and British champions, respectively, scored one victory each to share the
HK$300,000 prizemoney equally.
Lemaire, who has had a rollercoaster ride recently, comfortably won the
opening leg on Bobo Win (Danehill) by a length and three quarters. Lemaire was
injured in early October so had to sit out the Arc weekend in Paris, but came
back to land the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) in Tokyo two weeks ago on the great mare
Vodka (Tanino Gimlet).
The Japanese stewards banned him for four days for careless riding in Tokyo
last weekend, which meant he has to miss out on several good rides in the Hong
Kong International races at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Murtagh showed his huge talent to have top favorite Master Dreamer (Dream
Well) in a perfect position throughout, and came with a well-timed run to take
it up inside the final 200 meters to win going away by a length and a half. Ryan
Moore had to show all his strength to snatch victory in the final stride to take
the last leg on Mings’ Hero (Danske) and nose out another European, the German
star Andreas Suborics.
“Winning here is much appreciated after my misfortunes of last weekend in
Japan,” Lemaire said. “There is a special atmosphere at Happy Valley and I
really enjoy riding here. It was a great thrill to share it with Johnny and
Ryan.”
“This three-way tie is a great result! I tried my utmost to get a place in
the last but just couldn’t,” Murtagh said. “The handicapper has done a very good
job, and made this event very competitive.”
“It was nice to win here. Happy Valley hasn’t been lucky for me in the past
but I was riding lucky number 8!,” said Moore, who was registering his first win
at the course. “I am only sorry that I couldn’t have laid up closer on my mounts
in the first two legs.”
The lone American representative in the Jockeys’ Championship, the
California-based Joe Talamo, finished in a tie for ninth. Canadian Chantal
Sutherland finished in a tie for 11th.