Joao Moreira will reunite with 2021 Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) runner-up Hishi Iguazu in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin later this month.
Moreira, who is currently enjoying a successful autumn stint in Australia, confirmed to the Post he has secured rides in two of the three features on Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 30, with the Brazilian also partnering My Oberon for Annabel Neasham in the Group One Champions Mile.
Champions Day will mark Moreira’s first trip to Hong Kong since international day in December – which was billed as his farewell to the city’s fans – and he will be chasing his first local success since booting home Sugar Sugar at Happy Valley during the penultimate meeting of the 2022-23 season.
After riding at a couple of meetings in Hong Kong at the start of this season, Moreira returned to Brazil following a procedure on his injured hip and then announced a global farewell tour.
The Brazilian tasted Group One success in Sydney last month, partnering Militarize to victory in the Inglis Sires’ (1,400m), and he jumps aboard that same galloper in Saturday’s Group One Champagne Stakes (1,600m) among his eight rides at Randwick.
Hishi Iguazu is one of four Japanese runners in a QE II Cup that was reduced to eight on Friday, with Douglas Whyte’s Russian Emperor removed from the field fewer than 24 hours after the Jockey Club announced him as one of the selections.
After Russian Emperor’s eighth in last month’s Group One Dubai Sheema Classic (2,410m) at Meydan, Whyte suggested the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) would be his six-year-old’s next target and that is now expected to be the case.
Russian Emperor’s withdrawal reduces the home team’s QE II Cup contingent to three, with Money Catcher and Tourbillon Diamond joining reigning champion Romantic Warrior in flying the Bauhinia flag.
A couple of Hong Kong-based jockeys have also landed rides on runners from Japan, with Zac Purton to partner Prognosis and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu securing the mount on Danon The Kid, while Italian rider Cristian Demuro is expected to pilot Geraldina.
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