Moreira's time here would benefit Singapore, too

It had been racing's worse-kept secret that Hong Kong would be getting a Brazilian. Not our first Brazilian but definitely the one we wanted, so the discomfort that accompanied the wax being lifted off that announcement on Sunday was surprising.

Joao Moreira's impending move from Singapore was there in his words after winning the International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley last December, and although Japan and the US were possibilities, Hong Kong was a done deal during the summer.

It was a case of when. When Moreira's fourth Singapore championship was secure - and a fairly unimaginative declaration in cricket terms, now he's 76 wins in front with three months to go - and when there was a suitable trigger. A pending engagement for Ambitious Dragon looks to have been the trick. (There seemed some confusion between trainer and jockey over who rang whom, after reading quotes from Moreira, but it's of little matter.) But it was surprising how unforthcoming the Jockey Club was on an official level about the whole thing, all in the name of protecting Singapore Turf Club's apparently fragile sense of self. Surely the STC knew before it appeared on Twitter? Everyone else did.

The sting in the tail is that, because the STC is well behind the eight ball with Hong Kong commingling for this season - for reasons we don't understand given that Singapore commingles already with Australia - the Lion City club is going to miss a great opportunity to launch cross betting.

Moreira's arrival at Sha Tin would have every fan in Singapore taking a close interest in Hong Kong racing and, given that the take-out benefit of commingling of bets occurs with the jurisdiction where those bets are placed, Singapore would have been the beneficiary.