Karis Teetan and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu had to settle for fifth and eighth, respectively, in this weekend’s World All-Star Jockeys series, with the pair testing their mettle against a host of overseas stars at Sapporo racecourse.

Teetan got off to a flying start to hold the joint lead at the halfway point in the competition, which consists of four races over two days, but was unable to add to his early success behind the eventual winner Joao Moreira.

The Mauritian was called up for the event to replace the injured Lisa Allpress and landed his second win on Saturday’s 12-race programme in the opening leg of the series aboard Kvasir.

After settling in midfield in the 1,200m heat, Teetan urged his mount forwards at the 400m marker to pip the Moreira-ridden Courteous Manner in the dying embers.

While the 34-year-old could only manage 11th, ninth and sixth in the remaining legs, Teetan clung onto fifth spot overall, earning him a chance to apply for a short-term licence in Japan next summer.

Ho was unable to land a blow in the four legs, finishing fifth, 14th, 12th and fourth. After tracking the leader throughout in the final race, Ho appeared to have a strong winning chance before his effort petered out in the closing stages.

Ho finished in eighth place overall with 24 points and Teetan ranked joint-fifth with Kohei Matsuyama on 41. Moreira, a four-time Hong Kong champion jockey, reigned supreme with 64.

He may not have experienced success in the series, but Ho still had reasons to be cheerful with a win on the undercard each day.

On Saturday, Ho saluted aboard Laurel Orb in the second race of the day, with his mount showing a powerful turn of foot to surge home from the rear of the field.

He collected his second win of the weekend and eighth overall in the Land of the Rising Sun with a dominant success aboard Roman Lake over 1,700m on Sunday.

Away from Japan, it’s been a busy period for Hong Kong-based jockeys and Lyle Hewitson, Andrea Atzeni and Britney Wong Po-ni have all been in action ahead of the season opener at Sha Tin on September 8.

Hewitson continued his successful time in Australia with his third winner Down Under at Ballarat last Tuesday, while Atzeni returned to Newmarket’s winner’s enclosure once from his four rides on Saturday in the United Kingdom.

Wong, 25, continued her education in New Zealand and managed a best finish of fourth from seven rides last week.