Karis Titan joined an elite group of jockeys to celebrate a significant milestone at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday night riding a 700 winner.
The Mauritian jockey perfected his ride on Speedstar as he stormed home from the back of the field to take the first leg of the Grade 5 Tai Lam Chung Handicap (1200m).
A South African champion apprentice, Titan won his first title in Hong Kong in 2013 and has become one of the city’s top riders.
“It’s an amazing number. 700 wins is amazing,” Teetan said after reaching the milestone alongside Douglas Whyte, Zac Purton, Joao Moreira, Tony Cruz and Brett Prebble.
“I am grateful for all the opportunities and support provided here. I can’t do it without this opportunity. It took a lot of effort, but thank you all.
“It was a long journey, but I enjoyed every moment in Hong Kong. This is my home.” “I really like it.”
After slow breaking, Teetan set a time in 8th position to the Speedstar before running on the outside of the main straight.
The David Hall-trained gelding ran hard and beat Vulcanus and Cosmo Navigator in a close shot.
“We thought we could get a little closer in the race, but we didn’t want to unbalance it too much because the faster you drive, the less chance you have at the finish,” Hall said after his first run Speedstar. Victory from last March. “Karis did a great job. “She picked up the pace and was on time.”
7⃣0⃣0⃣ Hong Kong wins for @KarisTeetan! 🍾
The David Hall-trained Speedstar launches late to seal the milestone with a smart first-up win at Happy Valley… #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/d54XjUrSHu
Teetan, who finished second to Zac Purton in a career-best championship finish last season, will be hoping to extend his record in Hong Kong, which includes four Group 1 wins and a win in Hong Kong Derby in 2022 on Romantic Warrior.
“If I’m healthy, I’ll continue as long as my body allows,” said the 34-year-old. “You have to take each season as it comes, work hard and do your best.
“Obviously Zac is breaking all the records in Hong Kong, but I’m not one to set big goals and not achieve them.”Titan had a night to remember when he won the Grade 3 Shek Lei Pui Handicap (1800m) over Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Victory Steps.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Matthew Poon Ming-fai continued his fine form this season with a running double on David Eustace’s Podium and Manfred Man Ka-leung’s Island Golden.
“I’ve just focused on doing my best and trying to ride winners,” Poon said.
Andrea Atzeni replicated Poon’s race-to-race double by lifting Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Beauty Destiny and Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Giant Leap to victory.
Chill Chibi won the night’s feature, the Class Two High Island Handicap (1,650m), for Danny Shum Chap-shing and Purton with a barnstorming performance.
In other news, Alfred Chan Ka-hei has been cleared to return from thigh and hip bruising sustained in a fall at the Conghua trials last month. He will resume riding in trackwork and trials on Monday.
Connections of star Japanese filly Liberty Island have accepted an invitation to run in December’s Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) after opting to skip the Japan Cup.
