Mickaël Barzalona

Mickaël Barzalona is a French flat-race jockey and a public-facing ambassador for World Pool, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s global commingled horse-racing betting-pool brand. He is best known for winning the 2011 Epsom Derby on Pour Moi and the 2012 Dubai World Cup on Monterosso for Godolphin. Born in Avignon, France, he began his riding career as an apprentice to leading French trainer André Fabre and became French champion apprentice jockey in 2009.

Barzalona has since built a wide-ranging international career with winners in France, Britain, Ireland, the UAE and Hong Kong. He has been associated with Godolphin’s French racing operation for much of the 2010s and beyond, riding leading runners for the stable at major meetings around the world. His race rides are part of the international betting product, and he is regularly involved at meetings whose pools are commingled into World Pool.

Since around 2023, Barzalona has featured in World Pool’s ambassador and promotional activity, helping to present major international race meetings to betting audiences worldwide. The ambassadorship draws on his experience as a top-level jockey and connects on-track action with the global commingled betting pools operated by World Pool.