There was pride and poise in Karis Teetan’s smile as he lifted the reins past the post aboard Storm Rider, a horse that turned a chance call-up into a career-defining moment. The Mauritian jockey, known for his finesse and professionalism, marked his 300th Happy Valley win — a feat only one other active rider, Zac Purton, has achieved in Hong Kong.
For Teetan, the milestone came not with fanfare but with precision. Storm Rider, trained by David Hayes, had slipped into the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m) as a standby runner after Packing Bole’s withdrawal. From barrier one, Teetan produced a measured, confident ride that made every metre count — and sealed his Karis Teetan 300th Happy Valley win in style.
“You know you’re having a good run when that happens,” smiled Hayes. “Barriers win races, and he drew the perfect one. He’s gone up to a tougher class now, which is wonderful, and I think he’ll be even better at 1400 metres.”
Teetan, never one to overplay a victory, took a quiet moment to savour the achievement. “I was lucky to get the ride,” he admitted. “Storm Rider always looked a strong chance with that draw and light weight. I’m just grateful to David and the owners — and proud to reach 300 wins at Happy Valley. It’s a special place for me.”
Purton’s treble and Hayes’ hot streak underline the night
While Teetan basked in the glow of his 300th Happy Valley win, rival Zac Purton was as relentless as ever, posting a treble with Ragnarr, Hakka Radiance, and Harmony N Blessed — the kind of performance that defines champions.
Ragnarr, trained by David Hall, produced a gutsy display in the Class 5 Dongguan Handicap (1200m), overcoming a wide draw. “Zac just found a great spot — it was an excellent ride,” Hall said. Harmony N Blessed, meanwhile, continued his veteran resurgence with a 10th career win, while Hakka Radiance stretched his winning streak to three for Danny Shum in the Class 4 Shenzhen Handicap (1800m).
Shum’s form remained red-hot as Fantastic Fun, guided by Hugh Bowman, edged Samarkand by a short head in the Huizhou Handicap (1650m). “He’s a big, strong horse with more to give,” Bowman noted.
Whyte, Chang, and Lui keep the Valley alive with competitive doubles
Douglas Whyte also enjoyed a productive evening, notching a double with Dan Attack and Argento Ocean. “He’s a healthy horse in a purple patch,” Whyte said of Dan Attack. “When horses feel that good, they give you everything.”
Michael Chang’s Day Day Victory continued his rise with Alexis Badel, while Francis Lui’s Brave Star rediscovered form to capture the Zhaoqing Handicap (1200m) under Vincent Ho.
The final word went to Pierre Ng’s I Can, who closed the meeting with a polished win in the Zhuhai Handicap (1650m), keeping Luke Ferraris firmly in second on the jockeys’ table — still chasing the dominant Purton.
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