Joao Moreira notches 900th HK winner

Joao Moreira has become the 4th jockey to ride 900 winners in Hong Kong with a 5-timer at Sha Tin.

Joao Moreira has become the fourth jockey to rack up 900 winners in Hong Kong.

Moreira rode five winners at Sha Tin on Sunday with racing continuing in the Asian centre throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting went ahead after the Hong Kong Jockey Club received a late exemption to proceed under new regulations limiting gatherings to four people.

The HKJC said the government had also granted it permission for the meetings on April 1, 5 and 8.

Moreira reached the milestone with his fourth winner of the day and joins retired champions Douglas Whyte and Tony Cruz, and contemporary rival, Australian ex-pat Zac Purton, as the riders to reach 900.

He achieved it at his 4094th ride at a win strike rate just shy of 22 per cent.

“It’s a great mark to reach but I want to be looking back on it, leaving it behind,” Moreira said.

Moreira’s five-timer took him back to the top of the jockeys’ premiership on 94 wins, two ahead of Purton who rode a double on the program.