Joao Moreira stole the show once again with his fourth treble in a row on Wednesday at Happy Valley, and he capped his hat-trick with a smart victory aboard Kinda Cool in the first section of the Class 4 Gloucester Handicap.
“It’s not too difficult when you get an inside gate – he’s been a nice horse, he has been a little bit unlucky with his gate and today it wasn’t the case and I think it’s paid off,” Moreira said.
The Brazilian ace moves to an unrivalled 48 wins at the top of the jockeys’ championship table, and has 12 victories from his last 25 rides, 20 wins clear of reigning champion Zac Purton, who missed tonight due to suspension.
“Frankie (Lor) had him very well for the race – it wasn’t too complicated for me, I just had to make sure I didn’t run into traffic and when I got him into the clear he just showed the ability that he has – he won with a little bit of authority,” Moreira said.
The New Zealand-bred four-year-old grabbed his second win from seven starts in Hong Kong and as a 60-rater at present will move up to Class 3 next start.
But trainer Frankie Lor credited the good gate and gear change for the win: “He’s drawn wide his last two starts here – I think at Happy Valley he needs a good draw and also, I gave him blinkers for the first time he looks more concentrated.”
Moreira kicked off his treble aboard Ready Conqueror, who staved off his rivals to win the Class 5 Lockhart Handicap (1000m), before driving Caspar Fownes-trained Champ Patrol to a comfortable win in the second section of the Class 4 Gloucester Handicap (1200m).
But Moreira almost made it a running four-timer as We The South (127lb) tried to go all-the-way, but was denied in the Class 3 Fleming Handicap (1000m) by Blake Shinn and Handsome Bo Bo (125lb).
“I knew I was coming fast, I had a pretty good run from an awkward draw but the horse bounced well, he wanted to be in the fight the whole way,” Shinn said.
The Helmet chestnut had his first run for Danny Shum tonight, and his first since the end of May, to score a drought-breaking win that stretched all the way back to April, 2018, and also returned first-up this season following a bone stress injury.
“Honestly the credit has to go to Danny (Shum), the horse is coming off an injury and he’s only recently taken the horse over and he was on the top of his game tonight.
“I was just the lucky recipient to take the ride and it’s great to be back riding for Danny to get my first win this season for him,” Shinn said.
Shinn moves to six wins this term and secures his third from the last five race meetings.
Hong Kong racing continues this Sunday (6 December) at Sha Tin.
- HKJC
