Karis Teetan makes impressive debut with jockeys’ sprint win

Sports: Caris Teetan kicked off the new season with a win in the Jockeys’ Sprint on Saturday as he prepares for an upcoming Group One ride on rising star Mugen in Japan. Teamed up with trainee Alice Wong Chi-Wang in the 100m relay contest on Sha Tin Strait, the Mauritian rider claimed his fifth success in the annual Jockeys’ Sprint, beating Australian Brenton Awadallah. Teetan, who finished second to champion Zac Purton with 86 wins in last term’s Premiership, is excited about his prospects this campaign, which includes Mugen in the Group One Sprinters’ Stakes (1,200m) on September 29. The 34-year-old rider has ridden Pierre Ng Pang-Chee’s fine sprinter to all four victories of his career, including the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) in June. “He’s doing really well. I’ve been sitting on him early in the morning, I’m very happy with his performance and I think it’s a good trip for him.” Teetan enhanced his reputation as the fastest jockey at Sha Tin in what was the first jockeys’ sprint since 2019, after the event was cancelled last year due to Covid and a typhoon.