Winner Ryan Moore with his trophies at Happy Valley in Hong Kong
Date: 12/10/2025
At Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on Wednesday night, Irish rider Ryan Moore won this year's edition of the Longines International Jockeys' Championship. With his 2 wins and 24 total points in the 4 race competition, he took home the winner's prize of HK$600,000 (US$77,120). Jockeys were awarded 12 points for a win, 6 points for second, and 4 for third, and competed in four handicap races around the tight right-handed 7 furlong triangular turf course on Hong Kong Island. There was a tie for second place between Hugh Bowman and William Buick, who each had 12 points (just 1 win each), so they each took home HK$200,000 (US$25,707), while Zac Purton also scored 12 points but did not win a race so loses the tiebreaker.
Ryan Moore wins the second race of the competition.
In the first leg, a 1000m (5 furlong) one-turn sprint, Hugh Bowman set the pace with 12-1 Zeta Hedge but tired badly to finish last, as William Buick, 11th early on 8-1 Bunta Baby, rallied to win by a neck over 11-2 Beauty Thunder with Zac Purton, and another 1 1/2 lengths back to 11-1 Healthy Healthy with James McDonald third. The middle two legs were run at 1650m (about 1 mile) around 2 turns. In the second leg, Ryan Moore sent 4-5 favorite Corleone to the early lead and he held off 6-1 Ace War with Rachel King for the win. It was another 1/2 length back to 12-1 Fortunate Son ridden by Vincent Ho third. The third leg saw Rachel King set the pace with 20-1 Samarkand only to fade to 8th, as Hugh Bowman, 9th early on 11-4 favorite Silvery Breeze, rallied to win by a neck over 4-1 Flying Fortress with Zac Purton. It was a length back to 9-2 Max Que with Vincent Ho third.
The final leg was the longest of the 4 races, a 1200m (6 furlong) event starting on the clubhouse turn. Vincent Ho sent 23-1 Wonderstar to the lead pressed by Hollie Doyle on 9-2 Mr. Desira and stalked by 11-2 Tourbillon Golfer with Umberto Rispoli. But in the stretch, 22-1 Triumphant More, 11th early, rallied to win by 3/4 length over Tourbillon Golfer to clinch the title for jockey Ryan Moore. It was another 1/4 length back to 13-2 Mighty Commander under Christophe Lemaire.
Jockey Ryan Moore wins the final race of the competition to seal the victory.
After winning the first leg, Buick said, "He came out not the quickest and the pace really felt [like] it was on. It's my first winner at Happy Valley, so I'm very happy to have achieved it. He filled up the whole way – it was just about getting the run and when he came home, he came home with a head full of steam. He won well in the end and came off the back of a good run, so he was certainly one of my better rides on the night."
After winning the third leg, Hugh Bowman said, "It was very important actually for the way things were going. He was knocking on the door, his recent form has been very consistent and and his two runs this campaign have been solid. He got the set up to suit him this evening and I got a nice gap when I needed it and he was courageous for me."
Winning jockey Ryan Moore is presented the trophy.
After winning the second leg, Moore said, "Once again I got well looked after by the club or whoever does the draw and they put me on [Corleone] who had outstanding claims and he got the job done. The horse in the last looked like he had a chance, but the gate [10] was awkward but it worked out well for him. He tried very hard. He looked to have obvious outstanding claims really and was well drawn. It would have been nice to get [another horse to] lead – he had to make the running and he was a little bit on the bridle in places and a little bit lazy at other times, but he kept putting up plenty in the straight."
After winning the fourth and final leg (after also winning the second), Moore said, "He quickened well. He tries and he shows a good turn of foot. I'm very fortunate to have been coming back here for so many years and it's a long time since I last won it. I'm very fortunate to have been coming back here for so many years and it's a long time since I last won it." He last won the title back to back in 2009 and 2010, but has competed in the contest 19 of the last 20 years.
The opening ceremony for the Jockey Championship.
After nailing down his third International Jockeys' Championship and his HK$600,000 (US$77,120) check, Moore said, "Everyone wants to ride here, and why wouldn't you want to be part of it? This year you had a bunch of riders with experience of riding in Hong Kong. The majority had ridden here for an extended period of time, so they were aware of how it all works and where they needed to be in races. We've said for many years, Hong Kong has the most competitive racing and when you have a strong product and good prize-money, the best will turn up." On Sunday, Moore will ride Los Angeles in the Hong Kong Vase (G1), Satono Reve in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1), and The Lion in Winter in the Hong Kong Mile (G1).
