Richard Hughes is poised to be crowned champion British jockey for a third time in the absence of Ryan Moore who is chasing prizes around the world including Australia.
Moore, the winner of Sunday’s Canadian International on Hillstar, will not ride in Britain again this season.
He will be aboard Adelaide in Saturday’s Cox Plate.
“After that it is on to America for the Breeders’ Cup, back to Australia for the Melbourne Cup, and then there’s the Japan and Hong Kong races,” Moore’s agent Tony Hind, who also represents Hughes, said.
Hughes has been chasing Moore’s tail for much of the season but has stamped his authority in recent weeks.
He suffered a delayed start after a fall at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night ruled him out of the opening weeks of the season.
The 41-year-old jockey admitted any notion of catching Moore was inconceivable earlier in the year.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been battling with Ryan, but it still feels sweet after the doctor told me I could be out for months when I was injured in Dubai,” Hughes said.
“Because of that, I started a month behind everyone else and I didn’t think I’d be able to catch Ryan.
Hughes is stable jockey for Richard Hannon jnr who is set to claim the champion trainer title after taking over from his father, Richard, at the start of the year.
