Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Forced to miss important fixtures in Ireland, France, England and America owing to a stress fracture in his femur discovered in late August, Ryan Moore made a winning return to the saddle at Lingfield December 3.
Then on Wednesday evening, he won two of the four legs - employing dramatically different tactics–to take out the Longines International Jockeys' Championship for a record-equaling third time at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island.
Ryan Moore winning the International Jockey Challenge | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Moore picks up his third International Jockey Challenge
Other dual International Jockey Challenge winners include perennial leading Hong Kong rider Zac Purton, the legendary Douglas Whyte and Frankie Dettori.
Finishing a joint-second on 12 points, each having ridden one winner, were England's William Buick and the Australian, Hugh Bowman who is now locally based in Hong Kong.
International Jockey Challenge participating jockeys | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Buick wins the first leg
It was the Norwegian-born Buick who struck in the first leg contested over the 1000 metre minimum trip around the city circuit, as he settled $89 chance Bunta Baby (Cable Bay {Ire}), trained by Manfred Man, well back in the field of 12 behind a hot tempo, picked off runners one-by-one in the final furlong and a half and shoved his mount past Beauty Thunder (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) ridden by Zac Purton, in the dying strides.
“It's my first winner at Happy Valley, so I'm very happy to have achieved it,” Buick said. “He was coming off the back of a good run last time and was one of my better chances on the night so it's great to get it done.”
The Hong Kong Jockey Club, presents silver dishes and cheques for HK$200,000 to William Buick | Image courtesy of he Hong Kong Jockey Club
Moore takes the second leg
Ryan Moore, who dead-heated for his first International Jockey Challenge in 2009 before successfully defending his title 12 months on, had the leg two ride on the piping hot $18 favourite Corleone (Dundeel {NZ}), whose trainer Caspar Fownes had already registered a race-to-race double with the visiting Joao Moreira in the first two races on the program.
He expected controlling speed from barrier two, Moore kicked the 5-year-old gelding straight into the lead and took his rivals along at a very comfortable pace through the middle stages of the 1650 metre contest.
Carrying second top weight of 134 pounds, Moore nursed his mount along into the final stages and was there for the taking, but Corleone just held off Ace War (Ire) (Phoenix of Spain {Ire}) and Rachel King by a short head.
Bowman chips in with the leg 3 winner
Hugh Bowman, well-known for his affiliation with the legendary Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) from his time in Australia, has become a consistent fixture while permanently based in Hong Kong over the last three seasons. Himself a winner of the 2016 International Jockey Challenge, the 45-year-old was aboard the $39 pick Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {NZ}) for British ex-pat trainer David Eustace in the third leg of the series, also over the extended mile.
Taken back to near the tail, Silvery Breeze was felt for 400 metres out, ran to daylight about five off the inside with time ticking away and surged past his chief market rival Flying Fortress (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Purton in yet another desperate finish.
“It was very important actually for the way things were going,” Bowman said. “He was knocking on the door, his recent form has been very consistent and he got the set-up to suit him this evening.”
With three different riders saluting in the first three legs and with the other pointsgetters lurking, the International Jockey Challenge was very much an unfinished story entering the final leg over the metric six furlongs, with Moore, Buick, Bowman and Purton all on 12 points.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club, presents silver dishes and cheques for HK$200,000 to Hugh Bowman | Image courtesy of he Hong Kong Jockey Club
Moore takes the challenge with success in the fourth race of the series
Allotted the appropriately named Triumphant More (Star Turn) for trainer Frankie Lor in the finale, Moore had no choice but to go back from gate 10 and save the Australian-bred galloper for a finish. Still with the bulk of the field to navigate turning into the straight, the veteran reinsman conjured up a flying finish out of $236 roughie to lead on the post and secure the International Jockey Challenge.
American Classic-winning jockey Umberto Rispoli, who spent nine seasons in Hong Kong and was making his International Jockey Challenge debut, settled for second aboard Tourbillon Golfer (Cosmic Force) for Ricky Yiu.
Moore had been fighting the leg issue since around the time of the Irish Derby and went for a scan at the back end of August, which revealed the fracture. That ruled him out of meetings such as Irish Champions weekend, the Arc, British Champions Day and the Breeders' Cup, but he was back to his brilliant best beneath the Wednesday night lights at 'the Valley.' He took home a checque for HK$600,000 (AU$115,555) for his work.
“I'm very fortunate to have been coming back here for so many years and it's a long time since I last won it,” said Moore. “It's fortunate I had two very good rides today and it worked out nicely for me. I'm just thankful to be coming back here and I had the luck tonight.”
The Hong Kong Jockey Club, presents a silver whip and cheque for HK$600,000 to Ryan Moore | Image courtesy of he Hong Kong Jockey Club
Trainers Francis Lui, Danny Shum and Michael Chang all posted winners on the undercard, along with jockeys Joao Moreira, Luke Ferraris, Keith Yeung and Hugh Bowman.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday December 14, with the HK$130 million (AU$25.1 million) Longines Hong Kong International Races.
