Moreira seems en route to third Hong Kong riding title
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEThree days after winning a record eight races on a single program, jockey Joao Moreira will be at the center of attention during Wednesday’s eight-race card at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Moreira is the runaway leading rider in Hong Kong this season, with 110 wins following his eight victories at Sha Tin on Sunday. His closest pursuer is Zac Purton, with 56. Moreira is almost certain to claim his third riding title in Hong Kong this year when the season ends in July.
Moreira rides in all eight turf races at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The final three races on the program are $159,085 handicaps ranging in distances from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.
In the sixth race, the Police Cup Handicap at six furlongs on turf, Moreira rides I’m a Witness, who won a handicap at Happy Valley on Jan. 25 and was beaten a short head when he made a quick return in a handicap on Feb. 8. Our Hero won the Feb. 8 race and is part of the Police Cup Handicap field.
I’m a Witness will carry 125 pounds. The 133-pound topweight is Fantastic Feeling, who has had troubled trips his last three starts, all losses.
Moreira rides Enreaching in the seventh race, the Gloucester Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Enreaching won a lesser handicap at about a mile on the all-weather track at Sha Tin on Feb. 11, his first win in seven starts during the current season.
Giant Turtle will attract support. He won consecutive starts in December and January before finishing a troubled fifth, beaten three-quarters of a length, in a handicap at Happy Valley on Feb. 2.
In the final race, Moreira has the mount on Who’sthedude, who won his first start of the season but is winless in his last four starts. Who’sthedude has been assigned 121 pounds, 12 less than Urban Chic, who was sixth in his Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin on Feb. 19.
Urban Chic previously raced in England, where he won four consecutive races on the all-weather tracks from December 2015 to late March 2016.
