Paul O’Sullivan and Karis Teetan bring up 500 Hong Kong winners in the same race at Happy Valley
- Mauritian jockey and Kiwi trainer achieve huge career milestones as Shadow Runner salutes at the city circuit on Wednesday night
There were 1,000 reasons to celebrate at Happy Valley on Wednesday night as trainer Paul O’Sullivan and jockey Karis Teetan achieved the milestone of 500 Hong Kong winners in the same race.
Teetan steered home Shadow Runner, who will surely now be an answer to plenty of Hong Kong quiz questions, to win by a neck in the Class Four Green Island Handicap (1,200m), thrilling O’Sullivan.
“It really is a milestone and this horse is owned by George Leung [Wai-ki] and his family – they’ve been there since day one – so to get 500 with George is absolutely fantastic,” O’Sullivan said.
“He ran well last start, had every chance and got knocked off. Today he had a similar run, it’s very satisfying.”
O’Sullivan was delighted to also be part of Teetan’s landmark and realised just how rare it is for a trainer and jockey to be celebrating 500 winners in the same race.
“I’m not a mathematician but that would be long odds,” Sullivan said. “It’s a great milestone for both of us, so it’s a great thrill. Hong Kong is a tough place to win a race so it means a lot. Onwards and upwards and I’ll try to keep adding to it.”
Despite registering his 500th success, Teetan was keen to remain focused on the future rather than celebrating the past.
“It’s a bit strange. I didn’t even notice my 500th until I was coming back and the guys were telling me. It’s a nice number to get to but it doesn’t stop here, we keep going,” Teetan said.
“It’s nice to ride a winner for Paul. He’s one of the nicest guys here. He’s always got a smile on his face so it’s nice to share a winner with him.”
Elsewhere on the card, Joao Moreira outscored Zac Purton 3-1 to extend his lead to 12 in the jockeys’ championship, but it was the Australian rider who won the night’s feature when partnering Beauty Joy to victory in the Class Two Lantau Island Handicap (1,650m).
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Purton was travelling noticeably well turning into the straight aboard the rapidly improving Beauty Joy, who brought up a double for trainer Tony Cruz after the victory of Viva Popcorn in the second section of the Class Four Peng Chau Handicap (1,650m).
“My horse showed his versatility tonight and his tenacity to win. He was able to come through nicely and win,” Purton said.
“He was plagued with a number of small issues when he first arrived and he needed to acclimatise. He needed time to get over those niggles and now we’re seeing the benefit of that. He’s lightly raced and I don’t think he’s reached his ceiling yet.”
Viva Popcorn was the second leg of Moreira’s treble and the Magic Man gave the Hong Kong punters plenty to cheer about as he steered the $2.25 pop home.
That win came just half an hour after the Brazilian star landed the opener – the Class Five Po Toi Handicap (1,800m) – on Tailor Made, who had just enough left in the tank to hold off the fast-finishing Lucky Missile.
Moreira’s treble was completed in the first section of the Peng Chau Handicap when Total Power swept clear of his rivals to record an impressive win by nearly three lengths.
Danny Shum Chap-shing was in the winners again after training a double for the second meeting in a row courtesy of Gorytus in the Class Three Lamma Island Handicap (1,650m) and Winning Method in the Class Three Cheung Chau Handicap (1,200m).
