He’d hoped to be back in Hong Kong a little sooner but Joao Moreira is ready to make an impact when he heads to Happy Valley for the first time in over three years on Wednesday night.
Denied a position on Hong Kong’s packed riding roster after hoping to return as Caspar Fownes’ stable jockey earlier this season, Moreira will ride in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) for the first time since 2021.
Victorious in the competition in 2012, Moreira admitted he wasn’t sure if he would ever be invited back after quitting Hong Kong racing to embark on a global farewell tour in 2022.
“Can you believe it’s been four years? No doubt riding at Happy Valley again will bring back some great memories,” said Moreira, who has ridden over 1,200 Hong Kong winners and won four premierships in the city.
“The IJC is where it all began in Hong Kong for me – in 2012 when I came in from Singapore to win the jockeys’ challenge I believe I caught the eyes of most of the people here in Hong Kong.
“I spent eight and a half years here and Hong Kong racing showed me to the rest of the world. I’m very grateful for what the sport here has done for me.”
Something of a gun for hire since leaving Hong Kong, Moreira is still having an impact at the highest level and he believes his rides on Wednesday night – including the Fownes-trained Super Sixty in the opening leg – put him in the frame for another IJC success.
“Unfortunately my best is behind me but I’m still having so much fun and the results I’ve been getting lately have still been great – I’m very happy with them. To make it even greater it would be nice if I can win this competition once again,” he said.
“It’s going to be bloody hard as it’s probably the greatest line-up [of jockeys] they’ve ever had. To be invited among them is a pleasure.
“I’ve got one of the favourites in the first leg and I’m glad to be in the game. Hopefully we can get a good result.”
Moreira, who won’t ride at Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races because of riding commitments in Argentina, left the door ajar for a longer stay in the city soon.
“There is a chance but it doesn’t depend only on us – it depends on the club as well. But I am looking forward and hopefully we can come back soon,” he said.
Another jockey returning to the IJC after an absence is Japan-based Frenchman Christophe Lemaire, who tasted success in the competition in 2009 and last lined up in 2018.
Lemaire is hoping to make a fast start, confirming he likes his chances aboard the David Hayes-trained Honest Witness and John Size’s Take Action in the early legs, but it’s consistency he most covets.
“In the horse racing calendar, the IJC is a really important date and I’m glad to be here once again,” he said.
“At Happy Valley you need a bit of luck and you need the right trip. I think the most important thing is to be consistent across the four races and if I can grab some places in all of them maybe I could be champion.”
Moreira is favourite for the IJC at $6.5, while Lemaire is among the outsiders at $18. Also in the market are Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman at $7, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu at $8.5 and $9 chances William Buick, James McDonald and Ryan Moore.
Reigning champion Mickael Barzalona is considered a $10 chance of becoming the first repeat winner since Purton in 2021.
In other news, the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) was reduced to just eight runners on Tuesday after Japanese raider Lord Del Rey was withdrawn from the race with lameness.
