Moreira may ride in Hong Kong
Three-times Singapore champion jockey Joao Moreira has applied to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for a permit to ride on the Chinese peninsular from next month, bringing to an end to his highly successful five-year stint at Kranji.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has acknowledged receiving an application from the Brazilian-born jockey and their licensing committee will make a decision by the beginning of October.
Moreira said it was one of the toughest decisions he has had to make but after carefully weighing up his career options in the long term and discussing it with his wife, he decided to start a new chapter, especially because an offer to ride in highly competitive Hong Kong is a rare privilege only afforded to the world’s best.
Moreira, who turns 30 on 26 September, is no stranger to followers of Hong Kong racing, having ridden there on short stints in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with the highlight being his victory in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship last year.
Long wooed by the HKJC to join their riding ranks, Moreira has previously declined the offers but said an opportunity to become the regular partner of champion Hong Kong “miler” Ambitious Dragon was the catalyst to his acceptance this time around.
If the licence goes through, Moreira expects to leave for Hong Kong on 16 October to be ready for his first ride aboard Ambitious Dragon in his comeback race in the Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy on 27 October.
“It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made as a jockey. No other place in the world could have been better than Singapore for my career to take off the way it has and I’m very thankful to the Singapore Turf Club and to my fans for their support all these years,” said Moreira.
“Things have gone super from Day 1. Every year after I win the title and break the record, I tell myself next year will not be as good but it turns out to be even better!
“I’ve recently realised my success here has come to a point where I can’t see myself improving anymore.
“Plus, most jockeys want to ride there one day. I know the jockeys in Hong Kong are very competitive but my goal is to get on good horses and ride as many winners as I can. My main goal is not to become the leading jockey there but if it happened, I’d be very happy.”
Crowned Singapore champion jockey in the last three years, Moreira has bettered the record number of wins each time – last year it was 206. His haul of Singapore wins currently stands at 703, including 24 feature wins with five at Group 1 level – the highlight being arguably the Emirates Singapore Derby aboard Chase Me in 2012.
In the last three years, Moreira regularly answered call-ups to ride in Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Germany, America, Malaysia, Macau and England. He has won three international jockeys’ series in Hong Kong, Perth and South Africa and landed two Group 2 events and one Group 3 event in Sydney, Australia.
But nothing has topped his eight wins from eight rides on 6 September at Singapore Racecourse.
– Singapore Turf Club
