Joao Moreira has reached another career milestone with the star jockey demolishing Douglas Whyte’s long standing Hong Kong riding record.
Moreira went into Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting having equalled Whyte’s 2005/06 mark of 114 on Wednesday.
He rode four winners and with 16 meetings remaining in Hong Kong this season, he seems certain to establish a standard that maybe only he can beat.
“I am very happy,” Moreira told the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“From now on all I can do is to keep working hard to win more races until the end of the season.”
Moreira, Whyte and Australian Zac Purton are the only jockeys to ride 100 or more wins in a Hong Kong season.
Purton rode 112 last season when he ended Whyte’s 13-year reign as Hong Kong’s champion jockey.
“It’s only my second season in Hong Kong and breaking the record means a lot to me,” Moreira said.
“Luckily so many people have been helping me here. Honestly speaking, before I came to Hong Kong, I wouldn’t have expected I
could achieve this.”
The Brazilian spent four seasons in Singapore where he was the leading rider and on one occasion notched eight winners from eight rides at Kranji.
He is a regular visitor to Australia at carnival time and his wins this season include two Group One victories on the Chris Waller-trained Brazen Beau who he will ride at Royal Ascot.
Moreira will also partner Hong Kong’s champion miler Able Friend in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting.
