Wednesday’s International Jockeys’ Championship could arguably boast the best
dozen jockeys ever assembled for the competition at Happy Valley, in Hong Kong,
and indeed anywhere in the world. The jockeys had ridden in excess of 24,000
winners between them, but it was just one race that decided the championship,
which fully lived up to its lofty expectations with the title going right down
to the wire in the fourth leg, with five jockeys in with a chance of securing at
least a share of the title.
Kerrin McEvoy got his evening off to the best possible start when producing a
masterly ride from the front on the 26-1 longshot Home With Glory to land the
first leg, keeping enough up his sleeve to hold off the challenges of the
favorite Winning Mascot (Suguru Hamanaka) and Redwood Baby under Ryan Moore, who
was outpaced early but finished with real purpose to get up for third.
Christophe Soumillon struck for Belgium in the second leg, taking a leaf out
of the McEvoy book, riding Flying Chaparral from the front. He broke alertly
from Gate 8 and never relinquished that position, easily repelling all
challengers on the 3-1 favorite. In the process he provided a double for trainer
Francis Lui, who had also saddled first leg winner Home With Glory.
“This was my best shot of the night. I was able to set the pace I wanted up
front and he responded well,” Soumillon said. “With the rides I have to come,
and Kerrin (McEvoy) scoring more points, I might struggle to be better than
third.” A correct prediction as it turned out.
Kerrin McEvoy was again amongst the points taking six for his second-place
finish aboard Expectator, while Mike Smith finished third for four points on the
Danny Shum-trained Southern Springs. After two legs McEvoy led on 18 points from
Soumillon on 12, Hamanaka on 6, with Smith and Moore on 4 points each.
Mirco Demuro moved into contention when driving out the Caspar Fownes-trained
Fun ‘N’ Games to take the third leg. Richard Hughes on second-placed St Yazin
and Zac Purton aboard third-placed Rocket Let Win were both scoring their first
points of the night. So going into the final leg McEvoy led on 18 points from
Demuro and Soumillon on 12 each, with Hamanaka and Hughes on 6 points, and
Moore, Smith and Purton on 4 points apiece. It was now all down to the crucial
fourth leg.
In the final leg McEvoy finished out of the points, but, fortunately for him,
so did Demuro and Soumillon his closest rivals, leaving the Australian in an
unassailable position. Fellow Australian Zac Purton ran out the winner of the
fourth leg on the Tony Cruz-trained favorite Majestic Anthem, from Maxime Guyon
on the Caspar Fownes-trained Formula Won, with Ryan Moore on Great Charm back in
third spot. Purton’s win propelled him into second place on 16 points ahead of
Christophe Soumillon in third place on countback, but clear on 18 points was
Kerrin McEvoy.
“I’m very delighted to have won this event, it’s a great competition,” McEvoy
said. “There are some great names on this trophy, and to have my name on it too
is a great thrill. I was on an outsider in the first leg, but he got a cheap
lead and had enough kick to hold on. In the second I drew a nice gate, and was
able to save energy for the final furlongs and getting points was a bonus.
“It’s been a fantastic experience riding with such greats as Gary Stevens and
Mike Smith, and I’m grateful to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for inviting me here,
and I hope I can come again. I last rode at Happy Valley in 2004, but never rode
a winner, so it was nice to put that right tonight.”
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