Ryan Moore is looking forward to being back on the big stage when he takes on ten of the best riders from around the world in Wednesday’s International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley
Moore, who has been present at 18 of the last 19 International Jockeys' Championships, returned to the track for the first time since suffering stress fracture of the femur with a double at Lingfield a week ago and having seemingly taken little time in getting his eye back in, the Ballydoyle number will no doubt fancy his chances of claiming a third victory in the jockey's challenge following wins 2009 and 2010.
"I'm pleased to be back riding in the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship," said Moore, who has also found the podium on four further occasions alongside his two triumphs.
"Everyone wants to ride here, and why wouldn't you want to be part of it?"
Understandably with twelve top-class riders going toe-to-toe around a track like Happy Valley, uncontrollable factors such as the draw and handicapping play a major role when it comes to determining who will be crowned champion.
Moore said: "Draws are always important around the Valley and it's probably the first thing you look at."
Moore will kick off his rides on Wednesday night onboard Winning Champion in leg one before Caspar Fownes' Corleone, who will break from stall two, and Jamie Richards trainee Storming Dragon provide him with reasonable chances in legs two and three. Should Moore find himself in a winning position following the opening three legs, it would be something of a writer's dream should the potentially aptly-named Triumphant More manage to seal the deal in leg four.
Looking beyond the IJC, Moore will also be involved throughout an action-packed card on Sunday, with The Lion In Winter and Los Angeles both set to take their chances Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Vase respectively, while trainer Noriyuki Hori has turned to the British-born star to partner top-class sprinter Satano Reve against the all-conquering Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint.
A regular visitor since taking out his license many years ago, Moore, who enjoyed a short stint in Hong Kong at the start of 2025 after a couple of senior riders sustained injuries, believes the Hong Kong Jockey Club's efficiency behind the scenes plays a major roll when it comes to making Hong Kong such an attractive proposition for riders.
He concluded: "I've been coming here since I was 18 and I like Hong Kong," Moore said. "The racing is high quality, it's competitive and it's very well run.
"It's the best that this sport has to offer in that regard."
