Mickael Barzalona

On the back of a victory aboard Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Coolmore and trainer Andre Fabre in the G1 Investec Epsom Derby in 2011, a then 20-year-old Mickael Barzalona took up a short-term contract to ride in Hong Kong, bringing up a single winner from 42 rides. Now all of 33 years of age, the Frenchman experienced the other end of the spectrum to take out the valuable Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) before a packed house at Happy Valley Racecourse, book-ending the four-race competition with victories en...

A dozen of the best jockeys from all corners of the globe--four based locally and eight from overseas--come together Wednesday evening at Hong Kong's iconic Happy Valley Racecourse for the Longines International Jockeys' Championship. Widely recognized as the premier contest of its kind, the IJC carries total prize money of HK$1 million, to be divided up three ways, with the winner taking home a checque for HK$600,000, while the second- and third-place finishers earn HK$250,000 and HK$150,000, respectively. Vincent Ho, best known for his association with the now retired three-time...

Princess Zahra Aga Khan's triple group 1 winner Mandesha (Fr) (Desert Style {Ire}) has so far failed to produce anything of major note as a broodmare, but the performance of her debutante daughter Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) at Chantilly on Tuesday suggests there could be a long-overdue change in the conversation. Introduced in the 9 1/2-furlong Prix de la Voie du Garde on the Polytrack by Francis-Henri Graffard, the homebred who is the first TDN Rising Star of her sire's first crop was allowed to coast to the front from...

A strong line up of jockeys have been announced for the 2024 Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The four races are worth a combined HK$7.5-million (£740,000) in prize-money, and there is a total prize fund of HK$1 million in bonus money for the most successful riders split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$600,000, with HK$250,000 for second and HK$150,000 for third (£60,000, £25,000, and £15,000, respectively). Vincent Ho, who won this contest in 2023, and seven-time Hong Kong Champion...

Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Azimpour (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Azmiyna {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning sire The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), sidestepped an engagement at Saint-Cloud earlier in the month and made no mistake in his debut proper with a 3/4-of-a-length tally in Sunday's €50,000 Prix de Belleville over nine furlongs at ParisLongchamp. 1st-ParisLongchamp, €50,000, Mdn, 10-20, unraced 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 2:04.32, hy. AZIMPOUR (IRE) (c, 2, Dubawi {Ire}--Azmiyna {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) was within range of the leaders racing at the tail of the seven-runner...

The Aga Khan's Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a stunning performance over seven furlongs at Chantilly in July and duly delivered a first black-type triumph with a display reminiscent of the owner's star distaffer in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Aumale at ParisLongchamp. The 4-5 favourite broke swiftly and was steadied off the tempo in sixth through halfway in this one-mile test. Angled to the outside passing the quarter-mile marker, she cruised to the fore approaching the...

He was the underestimated one in the line-up for Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, but everything was in place for the front-running soft-ground specialist Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}--Fair Daughter {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}) to deliver a career-best and take the prestigious prize from under the noses of the miling elite. Predictably placed on the lead soon after the start by Mickael Barzalona, the Andre Fabre-trained 5-year-old who had made an artform of winning pattern races in this style was expected to come back eventually but it just never...

Patrice Cottier trainee Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}--Latita {Fr}, by Silver Frost {Ire}) backed up a May 2 debut score at Chantilly with a third back there in June's G3 Prix du Bois and rebounded in style to register a first black-type score for her freshman sire (by Shamardal) in Sunday's G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. The 29-10 third choice was swiftly into stride and stalked the pacesetting Naana's Diamond (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in second through halfway. Coming under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker, she quickened to the fore...

Al Asayl's homebred Map Of Stars (GB) Sea The Stars {Ire}--Bateel {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) notched a one-length tally going nine furlongs at ParisLongchamp last October, his only prior start, and stepped forward to justify 11-10 favouritism with a career high on seasonal return in Monday's Listed Prix Pelleas at Compiegne. The eventual winner was positioned in a handy third until inching into second at halfway. Coming under pressure with 500 metres remaining, he was ridden to the fore entering the final furlong and ran on strongly in the latter...

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced 2-year-old-filly Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, produced a stunning performance in Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche over seven furlongs at Chantilly and emulated her illustrious second dam by securing 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The well-backed 11-10 favourite settled into a smooth rhythm and tracked the leaders in fifth after the opening exchanges. Angled off the rail for a clear passage approaching the quarter-mile marker, she settled the contest in an instant...

Andre Fabre trainee Gun Of Brixton (Fr) (Frankel {GB}--Cat Kate {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) in his May 20 debut over six furlongs at Saint-Cloud, before graduating over seven furlongs back there last month, and continued on the upgrade with a Rising Star display of his own in Thursday's Prix Bamboo Edition at Clairefontaine. He becomes the 41st Rising Star for his sire. Steadied to race in third after a slick getaway in this one-mile test,...

Up in trip to seven furlongs for Sunday's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure at Deauville, Magne Jordanger and Finn Blichfeldt's TDN Rising Star Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}--Kotama {Fr}, by Siyouni {Fr}) needed every bit of the new trip to register his black-type breakthrough. Held up early by Mickael Barzalona behind the pace set by the British raider Assertively (Ire) (Acclamation {Fr}), the Pia and Joakim Brandt-trained 19-10 favourite got that long-time leader just in time for a short-head success, with Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a...