Joao Moreira enjoys a Sha Tin winner in 2023. Photos: Kenneth Chan
They’ve had to settle for a dominant jockeys’ premiership winner for the past few seasons – and likely will in 2025-26 as well – but Hong Kong racing fans could be in for a midseason stoush for the ages if the stars align in the next couple of months.
With The Standard reporting on Monday that Joao Moreira could be set for a return to Hong Kong as Caspar Fownes’ stable jockey and James McDonald believed to be one of a string of riders confirmed for winter stints in Hong Kong, eight-time champion Zac Purton can expect to find things a little bit tougher towards the end of the year.
While there seems to be some water to go under the bridge before the Fownes-Moreira union is given the tick of approval by Jockey Club officials, the Brazilian rider – a four-time Hong Kong champion – could be back riding in the city by late October before staying until at least December.
McDonald has begun his short-term stints around mid-November in the past two years and is expected to be back in Hong Kong at least by the Group Two feature day on November 23, meaning three of the world’s best jockeys – four when you include Hugh Bowman – could be duking it out for a month or more.
