João Moreira returns to Hong Kong; Magic Man is in the house...

The Hong Kong Jockey Club accepted granting a license to the Brazilian jockey, hired by trainer Caspar Fownes

Joao Moreira winning the last Pellegrini with Obataye / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

SHA TIN, Hong Kong (Special for Turf Diario).- The spell is ready to be activated again. Joao Moreira will officially return to the Hong Kong jockey roster in April, after receiving approval from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride under contract from the 7th of that month until the end of the season on July 15.

The request was submitted by trainer Caspar Fownes, current leader of the standings and in the midst of a fight for his fifth championship. The return of the Brazilian represents a heavyweight reinforcement in the decisive stretch of the championship.

At 42 years old, Moreira needs no introduction in Sha Tin or Happy Valley. A four-time champion with more than 1,200 victories in the jurisdiction, Magic Man marked an era with his tactical aggressiveness, his surgical race reading, and a devastating efficiency in tight finishes.

His first departure in 2018 shook the environment when, at the peak of his power, he decided to leave for Japan in search of a permanent license. He did not obtain it and returned the following year. The second goodbye came at the end of 2022, when physical problems—a chronic hip ailment—and personal issues took him back to Brazil, with the scent of a definitive farewell.

However, the story was far from over. After undergoing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment to alleviate arthritis in his hips, Moreira reappeared in brief cycles as a guest jockey in Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong itself, showing that the magic was still intact, in addition to securing several strong wins in South America.

His return now, subject to a satisfactory medical examination and the formal signing of the retention agreement, revives a rivalry that defined the last decade: the one he maintains with Zac Purton. The Australian inherited the crown after the Brazilian's departure and, far from settling, added 7 titles to become the winningest jockey in local history.

The first meeting marked on the calendar for Moreira's return would be April 8 at Happy Valley. The vibrant and electric nocturnal setting seems the ideal framework for a reappearance that promises immediate impact. Hong Kong has Magic Man back on stage. And when Joao Moreira is in the gate, the statistics take a back seat: what matters is the feeling that something extraordinary can happen at any moment.