Ryan Moore made it clear once again who’s in charge: a third IJC title

The fantastic jockey, who only recently returned to riding after a fracture, sealed a thrilling tournament at Happy Valley in Hong Kong with a masterful ride in the final race

Ryan Moore and the trophies following his brilliant triumph / HKJC

HAPPY VALLEY, Hong Kong—In a tournament designed to test the world’s elite under equal conditions, Ryan Moore once again showed why many consider him the most decisive jockey of modern racing. With a ride of surgical precision in the final leg, the Briton secured his third LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) title at Happy Valley, adding to his previous wins in 2009 and 2010.

The championship remained wide open until the very end. Four riders—Moore, Hugh Bowman, William Buick, and Zac Purton—entered the last leg tied with 12 points apiece under the system awarding 12-6-4 to the top three finishers.

Aboard the fittingly named Triumphant More (Star Turn), Moore was positioned closer to the back of the pack than the front heading into the final bend. What followed was a masterclass: patience, traffic awareness, a razor-thin opening on the rail, and a sustained finishing burst to run down Tourbillon Golfer (Cosmic Force), ridden by Umberto Rispoli.

“I had two very good rides, and luck was on my side. I’m happy to be back at a place that has given me so much,” said Moore, who returned to action barely a week ago after a stress fracture in his femur sidelined him since August.

Moore had already announced his intentions earlier in the evening when he wired the field aboard Corleone (Dundeel) in the second leg over 1650 meters, a sign of things to come.

Behind him, the runner-up spot was shared by William Buick and Hugh Bowman, each earning HK$200,000.

Buick was especially delighted with his opening-leg victory—his first ever at Happy Valley—guiding the tricky Bunta Baby (Cable Bay) to a long-awaited maiden score at the 12th attempt. “It was one of my best chances of the night, and he delivered. Delighted with my first win at Happy Valley,” the Norwegian reflected.

Bowman thrust himself into contention with a polished performance aboard Silvery Breeze (Dundeel) in the third leg, finding the perfect opening to withstand Purton and Flying Fortress (Churchill).

The trainer’s bonus went to Caspar Fownes, who edged Cody Mo (Uncle Mo) on a tiebreaker with 16 points. Mentions also went to David Eustace, Douglas Whyte, and Manfred Man, each finishing with 12 points.

The night brought emotional moments as well. João Moreira, the four-time Hong Kong champion, received a rousing ovation everywhere he went. The Brazilian captured the first two races on the card with Family Fortune (Derryn) and Lucky Generations (Russian Revolution), both trained by Fownes, and was candid about what returning meant to him: “People still recognize the work I did here. It moves me. Every bit of effort was worth it.”

The stage is now set for Sunday’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin, offering HK$130 million in purses—one of the biggest days on the global racing calendar.

And Moore, with a flawless comeback and a third IJC crown, delivered a silent but unmistakable message:the king is back.