U.S.-Based Geroux Set for HK Jockey Challenge

Eight top riders from around the globe will take on local champ Joao "Magic Man" Moreira and three others in this year's Longines International Jockeys Championship at iconic Happy Valley.

 

The four-race showdown on Wednesday, Dec. 7, kicks off the on-track action for the Longines Hong Kong International Races set for the following Sunday at Sha Tin.

 

The all-star international cast. and the country where they are based, is Florent Geroux from the United States, Ryan Moore from England, Hugh Bowman from Australia, Mickael Barzalona from France, Pat Smullen from Ireland, Keita Tosaki from Japan, Gavin Larena from South Africa, and Mirco Demuro, representing Italy although his current career is in Japan.

 

Moreira will head the local squad which also will include the three top-ranked Hong Kong jockeys as of Nov. 23.

 

"We are delighted to have such a strong lineup of jockeys once again," said Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's executive director, racing authority. "This year's cast is about as good as it gets. Seven of the confirmed riders for the 2016 IJC are or have been champion jockey in a major jurisdiction and three are past IJC winners."

 

Moore will be seeking his third victory in his 10th appearance at the event. Larena won the last two races to land last year's top prize with Moore second.

 

Horses are assigned by blind draw with the pot split HK$500,000 ($65,000) to the winner, HK$200,000 ($26,000) for second and HK$100,000 ($13,000) for third.