HONG KONG - Mickael Barzalona claimed the title of the 2024 Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Hong Kong's Happy Valley racecourse on Wednesday night.

The Frenchman won 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).

Barzalona beat William Buick in the final stride to kick off with a maximum of 12 points, run over 1000m. The 33-year-old finished second in the second leg over 1650m.

After coming in sixth in the third Leg over 1650m, Barzalona hit the line in the fourth Leg over 1200m.

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"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," Barzalona said.