The world’s best jockeys will compete for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, 6 December. But there is no place in the illustrious line-up for a South African rider this year.
Gavin Lerena – with the 2015 title
A HK$800,000 prize fund makes the annual four-race showcase at Hong Kong’s iconic city track the richest jockey challenge in the world.
Four Hong Kong-based riders and eight of the very best of their overseas counterparts will form a brilliant line-up, with each rider competing for the HK$500,000 winner’s prize. HK$200,000 will go to the runner-up and HK$100,000 to the third-placed jockey.
Joao Moreira, Hong Kong’s record-breaking champion jockey, won the LONGINES IJC in 2012. This time around, the Brazilian sensation will face one of the best line-ups ever assembled, with last year’s victor Hugh Bowman and two-time IJC champ Ryan Moore in opposition. Those two prolific G1-winning riders are currently vying for the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title.
Magic Joao Moreira
This year’s overseas contingent also features some of the sport’s most exciting emerging talents. Brazil’s sensation Leandro Henrique, already a champion in Rio de Janeiro, will make his first trip to Hong Kong, as will California-based ace Flavien Prat, representing the USA. France’s challenger is Pierre-Charles Boudot, who won the French title last year with a European record 300 wins, while Cristian Demuro will attempt to claim the title for Italy.
Two experienced and outstanding champions complete the line-up. Another Brazilian, Silvestre de Sousa, ran away with his second UK championship recently, while Japan’s Keita Tosaki has won the JRA title for the last three years in succession.
Ryan Moore – top man
Four Hong Kong riders will be in the line-up. With Moreira guaranteed a spot as reigning domestic champion, two places will go to the next two highest-ranked riders in the Hong Kong championship, as well as the leading homegrown rider (a graduate of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School) at the cut-off date following the race meeting on Wednesday, 22 November.
Moreira leads the Hong Kong premiership by three wins from former champion Zac Purton, who is in turn seven ahead of third-placed Karis Teetan.
A battle is underway for the homegrown spot with Derek Leung on 11 wins and Keith Yeung close behind on nine wins for the term so far.
List of invited jockeys for 2017 LONGINES IJC
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Jockey |
Remarks |
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2016 IFHA LONGINES World’s Best Jockey |
Two-time winner of both the IJC and World’s Best Jockey Award. Three-time UK champion jockey and has 109 G1 wins to his name. |
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IJC Defending Champion |
Last year’s LONGINES IJC champion. Leads the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award standings and recently won a third Cox Plate aboard Winx. |
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Brazil |
Champion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and currently leads the title race at Gavea Racecourse. |
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France
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France’s champion jockey last year with a European record 300 wins. |
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Hong Kong |
Reigning Hong Kong Champion Jockey; IJC winner in 2012. |
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Italy |
Two-time Italian champion jockey and holds the record for most wins in an Italian season (264). |
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Japan |
Third in the last two IJCs. Three-time JRA champion jockey and has more than 3,100 career wins. |
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UK |
Two-time and current UK champion jockey, and won the Dubai World Cup in 2014. |
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USA |
U.S.-based Frenchman, a two-time Breeders’ Cup winner, who in September won three G1s in one day. |
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Hong Kong |
Highest ranked jockey (1) |
As at 22 November |
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Hong Kong |
Highest ranked jockey (2) |
As at 22 November |
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Hong Kong |
Leading local jockey |
As at 22 November |
