Joao Moreira stars with a Happy Valley five-timer as Zac Purton suffers back complaints

By Leo Schlink
Joao Moreira’s aspirations of securing a fourth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship have soared after the Brazilian notched a five-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (19 May) as defending champion Zac Purton suffered back complaints.

Having watched Purton cut his lead to 13 with victory aboard David Hayes-trained Red Majesty to claim the first race of the night – the second section of the Class 5 Tan Shan River Handicap (1650m) – Moreira put on a clinic, claiming five of the ensuing eight races.

With 15 meetings left in the 2020/21 season, Moreira stretched his lead to 18 – 128 wins to Purton’s 110 – after the Australian suffered back complaints and had to forfeit seven remaining mounts for the program.

Wednesday night’s haul marked the 19th time in seven years – and second time this season - that Moreira has posted five winners at a Hong Kong meeting.

"We don't get so often these good days, so I'm very happy," Moreira said, declining to agree with observations the championship battle with Purton is now over.

"I don't take things for granted and anything can happen and I have to be realistic. The chances of myself are higher, but nothing is for certain yet."

Purton is hopeful he can overcome his back complaint to partner Exultant in quest of a third straight G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 May) after it was caused when Red Majesty left the gates in the evening’s opening event.

Moreira’s fortunes contrasted starkly with that of his arch-rival as he piloted David Ferraris’ Nitro Express to a soft victory in the first section of the Class 5 Tan Shan River Handicap (1650m) before driving Francis Lui’s Universal Go Go to success in the second section of the Class 4 Shan Pui River Handicap (1200m).

The ‘Magic Man’ then guided John Size-trained Rhapsody to a short-head margin in the first section of the Class 4 Shan Pui River Handicap (1200m) before piloting Savvy Kingman to success in the Class 4 Tai Shing Stream Handicap (1650m) for Frankie Lor.

The 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 champion jockey clinched a quintuplet by steering Tony Cruz’s Transcendent to victory in the first section of the Kam Tin River Handicap (1200m) as Purton reflected on a premature end to his night.

Purton has twice previously endured back spasms but remains optimistic he can recover in time to accompany Exultant on Sunday.

Purton received treatment immediately after the first race but, after being assessed by doctors, the Australian was stood down from his remaining seven rides.

Size extended his lead over Caspar Fownes in the trainers’ championship to three wins when Antoine Hamelin led virtually all the way on Ping Hai Galaxy to land the second section of the Class 3 Kam Tin River Handicap (1200m).

Size currently holds a 62-59 buffer – ahead of Danny Shum (56) and Lor and Lui (55).

Size shared training honours at the Valley with Ferraris, who completed a double when Karis Teetan prevailed on Xiang Bai Qi in the Class 3 Lam Tsuen River Handicap (1800m).

Alexis Badel and David Hall combined with Oversubscribed to land the Class 4 Nam Chung River Handicap (1000m) as Hayes predicted Red Majesty would continue to improve next season after initially struggling on arrival in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 May) with the running of the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).