Hong Kong legend Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira, unquestionably one of the world’s foremost jockeys, is set to retire after a ‘global farewell tour’ in 2023.
In news broken on Wednesday [Nov 23] in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), four-time HK champion Moreira revealed that he plans to say his goodbyes to Hong Kong at the Longines HK International Races on Sunday Dec 11.
The 38-year-old has relinquished his Hong Kong licence and is recuperating at home in Brazil after platelet-rich plasma therapy on a troublesome left hip. He hasn’t ridden since Sept 21.
“I appreciate everything Hong Kong has done for me, and I’m not leaving with any bad feelings in mind,” said Moreira in an exclusive interview in the SCMP.
“Overall, Hong Kong has contributed to my life so positively, but I’m dealing with some physical and personal problems. Unfortunately, some changes had to be made and that includes me not being based in Hong Kong any more.”
Moreira, who is due to ride Japanese challengers Resistencia and Lei Papale at the HKIR, moved to the region in October 2013. He has ridden a total of 1,234 winners in the region, where he stands third all-time in career victories behind multiple champions Douglas Whyte and Moreira’s nemesis Zac Purton.
He set an HK record when riding eight winners on a single card at Sha Tin on March 5, 2017; he had achieved a similar feat at Kranji in Singapore, where he was three-time champion before moving to the white-hot cauldron of racing in Hong Kong.
According to the SCMP, Moreira has cited the “mental toll of being a jockey in Hong Kong” during the COVID pandemic as a reason behind his decision to hand in his licence. His family moved back to Brazil in June.
Moreira added that he was still in pain from his hip issue. “I was told by the doctors that if I wasn’t really keen to keep facing this pain, I should consider retiring,” he explained.
“I’ve done my very best to get rid of this. I’ve spent weeks training and pushing myself to see if I could get better. I would say I improved but too little for me to say it was very effective.”
Now he intends to travel the world on a global farewell tour, taking in places like Japan, Australia and Europe. “It’s a very tough call to retire right away, so I intend to ride for a very short stint – maybe a few months, maybe six months,” Moreira said.
“I want to be travelling a little bit around the world, something Hong Kong wasn’t allowing me to do. If I want to ride for six more months, being based in Hong Kong means I can’t travel anywhere.”
Moreira is set to ride at two meetings in Sao Paulo before jetting back to Hong Kong for the International Races.
• Visit the South China Morning Post website and the Hong Kong Jockey Club website
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