Why Hong Kong racing needs the Brazilian magic man…

I know I’m not alone when I say that at least some of the magic needed to reignite interest and a level of excitement and derring do returned to an averageWednesday nightHappy Valley race meeting last meeting with the reappearance in Hong Kong of the ever popular Brazilian rider Joao Moreira.

Here for three months as stable jockey for Caspar Fownes, the Magic Man always brings with him a certain je ne sais quoi to horse racing that few have seen- and FEEL- from anyone else and anywhere in the world.

For someone whose interest in Hong Kong racing has waned, knowing that JoJo was back had us staying in and watching the magic return to the races on television starting with the very first ride of the night, where the brilliant Brazilian played his well known cat and mouse game of Now You See Him, Now You Don’t and made an ordinary Class 5 race come alive with a wonderful ride full of Chiquita bananas.

Of the nine races on the card, he rode four winners which helped “Casibah” rush up the Trainers table and be up there with Mark Newnham.

I also believe that for Hong Kong born apprentice jockeys like Angus Chung, and especially ten pound claimers Britney Wong and Nichola Yuen, plus Jerry Chau who’s showing all the signs of being a future champion rider in the city with the talent to one day soon possibly even succeed overseas, watching and competing with the mercurial Magic Man can be an inspiring experience that will motivate them to watch, learn and become the best they can.

As for what happens to the Joao Moreira and Caspar Fownes team after the three months are up, here’s hoping that it lives long and prospers as it somehow gives Hong Kong a certain entertainment value that’s very much missing in the city.