Scott Burton

Imagining the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley minus Ryan Moore is difficult; on the night of 10 December, the 42-year-old links up with eleven other top-class riders, marking a nineteenth appearance across two decades.

Although the field was named roughly a month earlier, Moore’s participation could not be assumed because a femoral stress fracture, first disclosed late August, still required rehabilitation (for example, think steady canters rather than full-race efforts).

Seven days before the LONGINES IJC, the four-time LONGINES World’s Best Jockey stepped back into competition at Lingfield and completed a double; after a Tuesday morning barrier spin at Sha Tin on 9 December for longtime ally John Size, he looked notably at ease (such as chatting unhurriedly in the yard).

While 2009 and 2010 brought victories in what many regard as the premier global jockeys’ challenge, Moore has also stood on the rostrum four additional times (seconds as well as thirds).

For Wednesday, the cast features the reigning champion Mickael Barzalona alongside Christophe Lemaire, William Buick, James McDonald, Rachel King, Hollie Doyle, Joao Moreira and Umberto Rispoli, plus Zac Purton, Vincent Ho and Hugh Bowman (a roll call any fan could recite).

Appearing at the JC Cube in Tai Kwun, Hong Kong, China on Tuesday night, Moore said he was delighted to return for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship, noting that riders everywhere aspire to ride here and—put simply—who wouldn’t want to be part of it? (a rhetorical flourish drew smiles).

Happy Valley, with its tight turns and fast tempo, stresses placement, balance and split‑second judgment—areas where Moore typically excels when building a pace map (for instance, choosing when to angle to the rail).

However, because the 12‑rider allocation format aims for parity, the edge often lies in finding a mount a pound or two ahead of the assessor and in securing a gate that allows you to dictate the run (say, a low number that guarantees cover).

As Moore summed it up, the draw around the Valley carries major weight, and it is usually the first detail he checks (a quick scan of the racecard before tactics).

With that in mind, points look attainable: Corleone (134lb)—a seasonal‑return winner for Caspar Fownes—starts from stall two in the 2nd Leg (1650m); and Storming Dragon (129lb), trained by Jamie Richards, breaks from stall four in the 3rd Leg (1650m) (both positions should conserve ground).

Gate six gives Winning Champion (125lb) a workable launch in the 1st Leg (1000m). Moore will also remember that Mickael Barzalona secured the LONGINES IJC last year from gate twelve of twelve; Triumphant More (130lb) goes from stall ten in the 4th Leg (1200m) and would hand headline writers a dream result if successful (imagine the pun‑heavy captions).

Anticipating Sunday’s glittering LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, Moore holds rides in three of the four showcase events.

His latest Group 1 triumph for the Coolmore partners—who have retained him as number one since 2015—came on 21 August in the Yorkshire Oaks (2400m) aboard Minnie Hauk; and with The Lion In Winter (HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, 1600m) plus Los Angeles (HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, 2400m), he has two genuine opportunities to restart that winning thread (for example, a late surge in the Mile or proven stamina in the Vase).

When he teams up with the Noriyuki Hori‑trained Satono Reve for the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), memories inevitably turn to Maurice, the stable’s career masterpiece—dominant in the 2015 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and even more spectacular when capturing the 2016 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (a form cycle many try to mirror).

Back in June, Hori enlisted Moore for a pivotal turf workout on Satono Reve before the horse’s narrow defeat to Lazzat in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot, and the same combination could pose the most serious threat to Ka Ying Rising on Sunday (14 December), having finished closer than most in two prior Sha Tin runs (think tight margins rather than blowouts).

Moore’s connection with Hong Kong racing stretches across almost his entire career, and he has no hesitation explaining why he keeps coming back; he even answered The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s call for a brief early‑2025 stint after injuries sidelined a couple of senior riders (a pragmatic move in the equestrian calendar).

“I started coming here at 18 and I’ve a real fondness for Hong Kong,” Moore said. “The racing is top grade, fiercely competitive, and organised superbly (no corners cut).”

“In that respect, you won’t find this sport offering anything better anywhere.”

On Wednesday night (10 December), the Happy Valley program of nine races begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Class 5 Ventris Handicap (1650m) (a tidy opener to the racecard).