Mickaël Barzalona signs with World Pool as brand ambassador
12 August 2026(PRESS RELEASE) -- World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, has partnered with French Champion Jockey Mickaël Barzalona.
A retained rider for the Aga Khan Stud, Barzalona has ridden major Group 1 winners around the world and is known for his association with 2025 Longines Horse of the Year, Calandagan, who has won at the top level in France, the UK and Japan, as well as 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz.
In his role as an ambassador, Barzalona will provide regular blogs and insight ahead of key French racedays, where World Pool is partnering with the French Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), as well as sharing his views on other major World Pool races and being featured in advertising and marketing campaigns.
Barzalona joins four-time Longines World’s Best Jockey Ryan Moore as a World Pool ambassador.
“World Pool by PMU” is a partnership bringing top French races to international audiences under World Pool branding, with pools hosted and operated by the PMU.
World Pool ambassador Barzalona said: “It’s fantastic to be an ambassador for World Pool, which has benefited the global racing industry in many ways over the last few years.
“Hopefully the partnership between World Pool and the PMU can help show French racing to a wider audience and give back to the sport.
“In France we have some of the greatest racing around and I’m excited to share my thoughts as a World Pool ambassador on our top-class racing to fans in Hong Kong and around the world.”
Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “Mickaël Barzalona is a greatly respected name in France, here in Hong Kong and on the wider international stage, and we are delighted to welcome him as a World Pool ambassador.
“As a French Champion Jockey that has won countless international Group 1s, Mickaël is without doubt one of the leading riders in the world, as well as an eloquent and respected voice for horse racing globally.
“With World Pool’s strategic partnership with the PMU, Mickaël is the ideal person to highlight the best of French racing to our global audience. His passion and dedication to horse racing align with the ideals of the World Pool brand and we very much look forward to working together.”