Moreira Sets Hong Kong Single-Season Record
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Jockey Joao Moreira swept past Douglas Whyte's previous single-season mark of 114 wins in Hong Kong May 16 at Sha Tin after equaling the mark May 13.
Moreira rode three winners May 13 to reach Whyte's record, established in 2005-06, and rode four winners Saturday. He achieved the record-clinching victory aboard Penang Hall in Sha Tin's second race for his 115th win of the season.
The rider known as "Magic Man" proceeded to take his score to 118 by the day's end.
"I am very happy," said Moreira, who in April streaked to the fastest-ever Hong Kong century mark. "From now on all I can do is to keep working hard to win more races until the end of the season."
With 16 dates remaining before the season concludes July 12, the premiership leader could extend that tally by a big margin.
Moreira, Whyte, and Zac Purton are the only jockeys ever to have reached 100 wins in a Hong Kong season. Purton's last-season tally of 112—a total that clinched the champion jockey title and ended Whyte's unbroken streak of 13 titles—is now the third-highest total in Hong Kong history. Whyte, the jurisdiction's winningest rider with 1,679 victories, has surpassed 100 wins six times in his career.
A native of Brazil, Moreira is riding in Hong Kong for only his second season.
"Breaking the record means a lot to me," he said. "Luckily so many people have been helping me here. Honestly speaking, before I came to Hong Kong, I wouldn't have expected I could achieve this.