Completing a triumphant return to Hong Kong racing with a superb four-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (8 April), Joao Moreira reunited with long-time ally Caspar Fownes in brilliant fashion as the battle for the 2025/26 trainers` championship intensified.



Taking nine rides for Fownes, Moreira finished the evening with four wins and a second as Fownes erased Mark Newnham`s four-win lead in the championship to join the Australian horseman on 47 wins, and trail only by virtue of minor placings with 31 second placings to Newnham`s 36.



“Dream night. It`s nice to get a few wins on the board, Caspar said he was going to have a few horses ready to run well on this meeting and he`s done an amazing job,” Moreira said. “I just finished it off. He`s (Fownes) done everything and given me nice horses. When you, as a rider, are riding nice horses, your life is much easier.”



Starting his role as the Fownes` stable retained jockey in supreme style, Moreira struck with Decision Link, Golden Brilliant, Sky Cap and Perfect General to thrust Fownes closer to a fifth trainers` championship.



The Brazilian`s spree began with Decision Link`s (132lb) powerful finish to land the Class 5 Cochrane Handicap (1200m) after jumping from gate 12. Later, he scored aboard Golden Brilliant (125lb) in the first section of the Class 4 D`Aguilar Handicap (1650m) before leading all the way on Sky Cap (133lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Wyndham Handicap (1200m).



Narrowly denied by Hugh Bowman`s calculated patience aboard David Eustace`s Silvery Breeze (135lb) to land the Class 3 Glenealy Handicap (1650m) by a head over Moreira`s Sky Vino (127lb), the ‘Magic Man` completed his quartet when Hong Kong International Sale graduate Perfect General (128lb) clinched the first section of the Class 3 On Lan Handicap (1200m).



“It`s fantastic. I`m so happy and glad to be back, especially in the winning circle,” the South American said. “It`s a pleasure to be back – I`m so pleased and proud to back.



“I`ve got to be clear, it`s a bit different now because I`m in a different position (retained stable jockey) because I`m tied into a stable. It feels like people are warming up to having me back, I feel it, and I`m very pleased and proud.”



Winner of four Hong Kong jockeys` championships – in 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2020/21 – Moreira believes he can enhance Fownes` hopes of landing a fifth trainers` championship.



“I guess that`s the reason Caspar has been asking me for so long to come back and give him some help. It worked out pretty good. I was supposed to come back earlier in the season, but it didn`t work out, but I`ve come back to a crossed line where the championship is really on fire,” Moreira said. “Caspar is probably having the best shot by having me on the team to back him up. That`s why I`m here, to support him and hopefully to get the best results.”



Fownes lauded Moreira`s ride on Decision Link: “What a ride. He`s got it one off the fence from gate 12 and it was a beautiful ride. It certainly got us yelling – it was nice to see him finish off like that. It`s a wonderful way to start the partnership.”



Angus Chung slotted a double, successfully combining with Danny Shum`s General Redwood (123lb) to land the second section of the Class 4 D`Aguilar Handicap (1650m) and Tony Cruz`s Tycoon Resources (125lb) in the Class 4 Graham Handicap (1000m).



A half brother to dual Australian Group 1 winner Hungry Heart, Tycoon Resources provided Chung with his first double since February.



“It`s been a tough time, so happy for the double. I try my best – it`s been a difficult run – but it`s nice to get two winners,” Chung said, while Cruz believes Tycoon Resources has a bright future.



“It was his debut run tonight and he won very well. I think he`s a horse that`s got some ability. He travelled here very good, everything was very good,” Cruz said. “I think he`s got a good future.”



Zac Purton edged closer to another century of winners in a season when Ricky Yiu`s Smart Fighter (125lb) gave the eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey his 95th of the campaign with success in the Class 4 Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m).



Bowman regained second spot in the jockeys` championship by sealing a double aboard John Size-trained Sight Hermoso in the second section of the Class 3 On Lan Handicap (1200m), taking his tally to 47 wins for the season – two more than Andrea Atzeni.



Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 April).