The Hong Kong Jockey Club has unveiled a top-quality line up for this year’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on December 10, with returning stars Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire among the nine international riders.
The pair rejoin the IJC line up for the first time in several years and bolster a world-class cast that includes the reigning champion, Mickael Barzalona, Kiwi superstar James McDonald and Ryan Moore, who will make the trip over to Hong Kong if the injury to his leg improves in time.
Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, Umberto Rispoli complete the international line up, with the HKJC stating that, if Moore can’t fly over, he will be replaced by an international rider rather than a local jockey.
Hong Kong’s reigning champion jockey, Zac Purton, was the first of the home riders announced for the event. One of the final two spots will be filled by whoever sits second to Purton in the jockeys’ championship, while the last will go to the highest-ranked local rider this season.
With the four races of the IJC worth a combined HK$7.5 million in prize money and a total prize fund of HK$1 million for the most successful riders split three ways, the event is the world’s most lucrative jockeys’ challenge.
The winner will receive HK$600,000, while second pockets HK$250,000 and third will take home HK$150,000.
