BARZALONA IS THE TOAST OF IJC

French jockey snags HK's jockey series after winning 2 of 4 legs

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HONGKONG - Mickael Barzalona bookended a dominant performance in the Longines International Jockeys Championship (IJC) on Dec 4, with victories in the first and last legs of the four-race challenge to become the third French rider to lift the trophy following Christophe Lemaire (2009) and Olivier Peslier (1998 & 2006).

Godolphin's former retained jockey got off to the perfect start when dropping top weight Sergeant Pepper's head on the line to land the first-leg run over 1,000m, depriving Britain's William Buick in the final stride to kick off with a maximum 12 points.

Half an hour later, the 33-year-old might have made almost certain of claiming the lion's share of the HK$1 million (S$173,000) prize fund, when charging to the front aboard Forever Glorious in the second leg over 1,650m.

But New Zealand's James McDonald showed all the quality expected from a rider who will be crowned the Longines World's Best Jockey for a second time at Sha Tin on Dec 6, driving the Douglas Whyte-trained Prince Alex to score by a head, with Ireland's Colin Keane closing fastest of all to claim third on Sure Joyful in the third leg over 1,650m.

Neither Barzalona nor McDonald was able to add to their tally in leg three, where it was British woman Hollie Doyle's turn to shine as Soleil Fighter held off the cavalry in yet another tight finish.