After a win aboard Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Coolmore and trainer Andre Fabre in the G1 Investec Epsom Derby in 2011, the then 20-year-old Mickael Barzalona took off on a short-term contract to drive in Hong Kong and produced a single Winner from 42 rides. The now 33-year-old Frenchman experienced the other end of the spectrum, winning the valuable Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) in front of a sell-out crowd at Content Valley Racecourse and finishing the four-race competition with victories on his way to collecting 30 points and 11 others Leaving top riders from around the world behind with ease.
With a chance of 30:1 for the IJC, Barzalona got off to a perfect start in the first leg of the 1000 meters and pushed his fellow roughie into the lead Sergeant Pepper (Out) (I Am Invicible {Aus}) to a victory that was anything but “lonely”, like Lean Master (UK) (Havana Gray {GB}), William Buick's mount, and Parents' Love (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), ridden by defending champion Vincent Ho, got involved overdue. Barzalona thus secured the 12 points for first place (video).
Barzalona was assigned the mount Forever Glorious (UK) (Archipenko), who was off by 20-1 in the return leg over 1650 meters, and he looked well on his way to almost undoing the IJC when he charged in just before the final furlong. He was joined shortly afterwards by James McDonald and Prince Alex (Aus) (Animal Kingdom) – a 6-year-old full brother of US Class I winner Oleksandra (Aus) – suffered a fighting defeat when the dust settled (video). Colin Keane and Sure Elated (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) came home well in third place.
Hollie Doyle rarely leaves the IJC evening empty-handed, having finished a joint third in her first appearance of 2020 and finishing a dead second the following season. Her first-ever IJC win came on a scorching favorite for trainer David Hayes in 2020, and the Lindsay Park maestro was responsible for putting her right in the hefty of the action on Wednesday. The mount was assigned a bet of $6.30 (5.30-1). Soleil Fighter (UK) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Doyle managed to push the 4-year-old on the back of the speed, prevail and prove to be the narrow superior Silo (Off) (National Defense {GB}, Caris Teeton) and Aesthetics (Recent Zealand) (Derryn {Aus}), Zac Purton) (Video).
Five of the twelve IJC participants had a chance of winning before the final stage over 1200 meters. Barzalona's mount, Aurora Lady (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) was the third choice at a close 6-1 but had to overcome a potentially arduous 12-round draw for trainer Pierre Ng. The bay horse rode alertly and positively, raced wide three times in the first third of the field and without the advantage of cover and confidently prevailed on the straight Cyrus Dragon (Off) (Safeguard {Aus}, Keane) and Super Joy N Fun (NZ) (What's The Story {NZ}, Ho) (Video). McDonald and Doyle were unable to extend their 12 points and shared second place.
“Pierre was pretty confident about Aurora Lady's chances after disappointing in Sha Tin last time when it didn't work out,” Barzalona said. “He's been unlucky a few times recently and told me that as long as we didn't go crazy right from the start, we should try to move forward. I trusted my horse and he didn't let me down.
“It's a hard-fought jockey's challenge and when you see the substantial names up there on the roll of honour, I'm ecstatic to have my name alongside me,” said Barzalona.
Barzalona, who takes home the first prize of HK$600,000, joins Olivier Peslier (1998, 2006), Christophe Soumillon (2004, tied with Yutaka Take) and Christophe Lemaire (2012, tied with Ryan Moore). fourth Frenchman to win the IJC and John Murtagh). Barzalona have the call for Fabre aboard Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase on Sunday. It will be his final Group 1 ride for Godolphin before he takes on the role of first jockey for the Aga Khan Studs' French-trained horses in 2025.
Great night! 🎆@LONGINES | #IJC | #HKIR pic.twitter.com/xzVIpPMKKA
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 4, 2024
