In-Form Moore Heads International Jockeys’ Championship

Jockey Ryan Moore, whose recent international conquests includes victories in the GI Canadian International S., the G1 Cox Plate and the G1 Melbourne Cup, is the marquee name among 10 riders from around the world to be invited to the 2014 Longines International Jockeys’ Championship to be held at Hong Kong’s Happy Valley Racecourse the evening of Dec. 10. 

Moore, currently atop the standings in the inaugural Longines World’s Best Jockey competition, has posted a total of 15 Group 1 scores in seven countries in 2014 and is a two-time winner of the IJC (2009 and a tie in 2010). Moore will face a stiff challenge from Australian Zac Purton, the reigning champion jockey in Hong Kong who became just the second rider in history to amass better than 100 winners in a single season in dethroning Douglas Whyte from the local jockeys’ premiership at the end of the 2013/2014 season. 

Also likely to take his place in the field is Joao Moreira, runner-up to Purton in the premiership despite an abbreviated season and currently atop the standings in Hong Kong. Moreira posted a last-jump success in the 2012 IJC, just getting the better of Moore and Purton. 

Back to defend his IJC title is Kerrin McEvoy, while James McDonald, who finished second to Frankie Dettori in his first IJC appearance at age 19 in 2011, also represents Australasia. Fresh off a maiden Breeders’ Cup victory aboard Lady Eli in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, Irad Ortiz Jr. is set to fly the flag for the U.S. With 265 victories to his credit in 2014, Ortiz Jr. ranks third among all American riders with purse money in excess of $18.7 million. The Puerto Rican native makes his first appearance in Hong Kong. 

Other invitees include: Christophe Soumillon (France); Pat Smullen (Ireland); Yuichi Fukunaga (Japan); S’Manga Khumalo (South Africa); and Richard Hughes (UK). A final invitation will be extended to the leading ‘local’ jockey as of Nov. 26, likely to be Vincent Ho, who holds a five-win advantage of his rivals. 

“This competition has a long tradition of showcasing great riders and this year we have nine of the very best overseas jockeys, all in exceptional form, who will come here and take on three of Hong Kong’s very own,” commented Bill Nader, executive director of racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “That trio will likely include the outstanding pair of Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, two of world racing’s finest talents. It will be exciting; it will be thrilling; the atmosphere at Happy Valley will be electric.”

The 12 invited jockeys will compete for a total of HK$800,000 in prize money.