Star Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira was pumped to carry the Spanish colours to a brilliant victory aboard Forza Toro in Wednesday night’s special “Eight To Glory” race at Happy Valley.
Moreira and the seven other jockeys in the race traded their traditional racing colours for silks inspired by the eight quarter-finalists in the Fifa World Cup, joining Jockey Club officials to kick footballs into a goal in the parade ring before the race.
“He slips the keeper and finds the back of the net!” race caller Tom Wood shouted as Forza Toro crossed the finishing post three lengths clear of Podium, who carried Norway’s colours.
Frenchman Alexis Badel, the only jockey in the race to sport his native country’s colours, finished third on Precision Hope.
The unique race also featured a charity component, with the Jockey Club donating HK$100,000 (US$12,755) on behalf of Forza Toro’s owner, Siu Pak-Kwan, to his nominated charity, the Hong Kong Red Cross.
The owners of the other seven runners presented HK$50,000 cheques to their nominated charities.
