Teetan chases final IJC berth

The line-up for the 2024 Longines International Jockeys, Championship (IJC) on 4 December will be finalised at the conclusion of today"s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley with Karis Teetan and Matthew Poon fighting for the coveted final spot.

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The last two positions on the 12-rider roster are open this year to the next highest-ranked riders locally and with Hugh Bowman (19 wins) wrapping up the first slot, Teetan and Poon are locked in battle for the remaining berth.

Both Teetan and Poon have 14 wins apiece through 21 of the 88 scheduled race meetings this season. Matthew Chadwick and Luke Ferraris have 11 wins each and sit below the pair.

Poon trails Teetan with seven fewer second placings - in the case a countback is required to separate the duo - but has eight rides to Teetan"s three, with the Mauritian inconvenienced by an influx of runners who missed the final three races last Wednesday.

Teetan said: "It looked like things were going my way because before the races were abandoned all of my horses were first priority and I had a full book tomorrow (Wednesday) - then they all became reserves, so I ended up with three rides.

"I"m hoping, I mean those three are sort of chances. Matthew is not leaving my tail alone every winner I ride, he then rides one, so it hasn"t been easy but at the end ofthe day he"s riding well, too. If he does get to ride in the IJC, then he deserves the chance but I"m there to also give it a go."