Hong Kong champion jockey Joao 'Magic Man' Moreira became only the third jockey in Hong Kong history to ride 1,000 winners on the island. The Brazilian was successful aboard Incanto Prepared (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Class 4 Uranus H. over 1650 metres at Happy Valley on Wednesday. He joins 13-time champion Douglas Whyte (1813) and fellow champion Zac Purton (1209) in this elite millennial club.
“I can only describe it as a dream come true because I never dreamed that, to be honest, and I would never think that I could get to that mark in Hong Kong, knowing the place is such a tough place,” Moreira told the Hong Kong Jockey Club notes team. “I didn't get there by myself–I had great support behind my back, pushing forward in all ways.
“Of course, good horses make the jockeys' life much easier and I would describe the horses as the ones who make my life such a special life. I really enjoy doing what I do and I'm very pleased and glad to get to such a mark, a mark I never dreamed to get to–it's very meaningful.
“I must dedicate this to my family, my wife [Taciana], my kids, my brothers and sisters and my mum, who are no doubt cheering for me to get to this mark and without their support, I would say I could never reach to this mark. Support is always the main thing behind the scenes.”
Moreira currently is on top of the Hong Kong jockey standings with 56 wins this season. Earlier in his career, he hit the 1000-win mark in South America, and was also a four-time Singapore champion reinsman from 2010-2013. He earned his first Hong Kong laurel in 2014/15 and repeated twice more so far, in 2015/16 and 2016/17.
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