'It all unfolded perfectly' - Mickael Barzalona cruises home in Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley

The Longines International Jockeys' Championship has quickly evolved into a captivating occasion where the best jockeys in the world are raring to participate, and it's easy to see why when 25,000 spectators are packed into a breathtaking venue enveloped by towering skyscrapers, resulting in an almost colosseum-like feel.

Mickael Barzalona emerged victorious from a star-studded cast of a dozen world-class international and local riders in the 2024 championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday as he steered home two winners and a runner-up in the four feature races, overcoming a precarious outside draw to seal matters in the final leg on Aurora Lady.

While the surrounding edifices provided a glamorous backdrop to proceedings, the track produced equally extravagant glitz, placing the jockeys front and centre from the word go. 

The series was preceded by a flamboyant opening ceremony with each participant marched on to the track under their nation's flag and introduced one by one to a hysterical crowd before fireworks zipped, crackled and whistled in every direction.

The atmosphere steadily intensified during the three supporting contests and threatened to reach fever-pitch in the first leg of the championship, a 5f handicap, as last year's winner Vincent Ho glided around the bend into the furlong-and-a-half-long straight with a commanding lead on favourite Parents' Love. However, the crowd's merriment soon turned to dismay as Barzalona came with a wet sail on 37-1 outsider Sergeant Pepper to get up by a nose from William Buick on Lean Master, with Parents' Love a neck back in third.

New Zealand Hall of Famer James McDonald rode a treble on the card but only Prince Alex's success came in one of the championship races as he edged out Barzalona on Forever Glorious by a head in leg two over a mile. McDonald has an excellent book of rides at Sha Tin on Sunday, most notably Romantic Warrior, who bids for a hat-trick of Hong Kong Cup victories.

Some of the loudest roars were reserved for Hollie Doyle, who has firmly established herself as a fan favourite after becoming the first female jockey to win at the event in 2020 before finishing overall runner-up in 2021. A wave of noise seemed to carry her and the David Hayes-trained Soleil Fighter over the line in the third leg, a mile handicap, as the pair prevailed by a neck.

James McDonald and Hollie Doyle receive their runners-up prizesCredit: Vince Caligiuri

Doyle said: "I think David gave me my first winner in the International Jockeys' Championship so it's nice to get him another one. The horse did it nicely. He was very tough – he needs things to fall right but they did.”

McDonald and Doyle failed to accrue further points and Barzalona went into the final leg, a 6f handicap, with a commanding advantage. A canny ride on 59-10 shot Aurora Lady ensured he came away with 30 points, comfortably ahead of Doyle and McDonald, who dead-heated for second on 12.

"I'm very happy as it's a very tough competition," said Barzalona. "I'm proud to be part of it and to put my name by the champions that have won it before. 

"It was very important to get points on the board quickly and I also felt I’d scored well with horses that were perhaps not among my better chances of the evening. It just all unfolded perfectly."

Six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane was competing for the first time since 2019 and finished fourth thanks to placed efforts on Sure Joyful and Kyrus Dragon

"It was a good experience and was very competitive, as it always is," Keane reflected. "We had a couple of placed horses so it wasn't too bad. You need a bit of luck and the right draw. If I'm invited, l would definitely come back and do it again.

"The track is different to what we're used to at home. It's sharp and everything happens quick so it takes you a race or two to get used to it. It's a great experience. The fireworks were definitely different! They don't do things by halves here, that's for sure."

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