06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Karis Teetan snaps lean run with breakthrough three-timer: ‘I just kept my head down and kept punching along'
Battling a lean run since booting home superstar Ka Ying Rising, Karis Teetan injected new life into his campaign with a breakthrough treble at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Since successfully filling in for the injured Zac Purton on Ka Ying Rising in February's Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m), the Mauritian jockey had only one winner to his name – Ace Power at Happy Valley on March 19.
'Things have been a bit slow but I just kept my head down and kept punching along,' Teetan said.
Teetan's perseverance was rewarded when he notched his first three-timer of the season aboard Top Throne, Good Luck Babe and Mr Cool.
Booming run, Mr Cool! 😤
Sporting the same silks as Group 1 star Mr Stunning, Mr Cool wins his first race to give @KarisTeetan a three-timer... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 6, 2025
'I thought I had a few decent rides today and some of the draws went my way, too,' said Teetan, who moved to 30 wins for the campaign. 'It's turned out to be a great day.'
Top Throne started Teetan's red-letter day with an impressive victory in the second section of the Class Four New Asia Alumni Handicap (1,200m).
Backed into $3 favouritism after a close fourth on debut, the David Hayes-trained gelding had a sweet run in the box seat from gate two and pounced on the lead 150m out when hooked out into the clear by Teetan.
The three-year-old responded strongly to salute by three-quarters of a length, holding off a late charge from Dazzling Fit with debut winner Mount Everest also running on late for third.
'He ran great in his first run,' Teetan said of Top Throne's debut behind Mount Everest on March 9.
'He actually did many things wrong but to still run where he ran was a great effort and we thought he would always improve from that, which he did.'
Teetan followed up in the next race on David Eustace's Good Luck Babe, leading all the way to salute in the Class Four United Alumni Handicap (1,600m).
Sporting a familiar set of silks on Mr Cool in the Class Four Morningside Alumni Handicap (1,400m), Teetan clinched his treble when the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding stormed home on his second start.
Mr Cool went two better than his debut third to Tactical Command when he ran on powerfully from the back half of the field to beat Etalon Or by three-quarters of a length.
'I said to the owner [Maurice Koo Win-chong] 'this is one of my favourite set of silks' in Hong Kong because of Mr Stunning,' Teetan said, referring to the Koo-owned galloper he booted home in a pair of Group Ones.
'On debut at Happy Valley, he just didn't know where he was but he ran a great race and we knew he would improve a lot.
'You could see today, not many horses won from where he was but the speed was on and I was happy where I was.
'When I asked him he really responded well and I just want to say well done to the connections and well done to all the trainers sticking with me and giving me support – I really appreciate it.'
