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The latest in world horse racing news from the journalists at Idol Horse.
Sure — here’s the **cleaned transcript only**, in one copy/paste block.
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Host (00:00)
The Magic Man is back. Joao Moreira’s return to Hong Kong racing — at least temporarily — as stable jockey for trainer Caspar Fownes is a move that promises to light up the tail end of the Hong Kong racing season. Here to talk through the biggest storylines for the remaining 40 meetings is Idol Horse chief journalist David Morgan. Coming up next on the Idol Horse Newsdesk podcast — it’s Tuesday, February 24.
Host (00:33)
All right, we’re counting down the top storylines for the remainder of the 2025/26 Hong Kong racing season. Forty-eight meetings down, forty to go. Joining me now is Idol Horse chief journalist David Morgan. We’re going to tag-team it, David. I’ll throw a storyline up, you respond — we bounce it back and forward.
But we both compared notes pre-record, and we both agree: the number one storyline is Joao Moreira returning to Hong Kong as stable jockey for Caspar Fownes. Welcome to the podcast, David. First reaction to the news?
David Morgan (01:05)
Yeah, fantastic. It’s kind of what we’ve been expecting was going to happen, but great to see that it’s actually been inked in and that it’s going to happen. It’s just going to enliven the season.
You know, we’ve got Zac Purton running away with the title race again. It needs a man like Joao Moreira coming in — someone who’s got that absolute quality, that star quality, quality on a horse, big-race rider. Yeah, one of the all-time greatest coming back. It’s brilliant.
Host (01:34)
Okay — it’s 28 meetings actually, from April 7. About 100 days: April 7 to July 15, the season finale at Happy Valley. It’s not a short period. It’s more than a quarter of the season, and it’s during the part of the season that really can drag on.
That’s what excites me about it: after the group races are finished, and the feature races, there’s really not much to look forward to — especially if there’s not much of a jockeys’ championship challenge, which we don’t have right now. We have a really dominant jockey week in, week out. This is going to be really exciting every race.
David Morgan (02:17)
Yeah, absolutely it is. And you’re right: that period, especially after you get past Champions Day at the end of April, it becomes flat.
And having Moreira there — the fans are going to love it. You’ve got that extra element of “Magic Man”, because he can do magic on the back of a horse. We’re going to see that week in, week out for three months.
And we saw Shane Dyer’s column for Idol Horse today where he digs into what Joao Moreira brings — that ability to get on a horse, that natural instinct, where he gets a horse in rhythm, gets a horse moving, gets them into stride — it brings a different dynamic to the whole place.
Host (03:01)
There are a few side stories that go with Moreira coming back for that final period. One early thing to flag: Moreira’s been saying the end of his career is coming up soon — persistent hip pain and injuries bothering him.
Zac Purton’s not going anywhere until Ka Ying Rising is retired, at least. He couldn’t stop talking about retirement — until Ka Ying Rising turned up. He hasn’t mentioned it once since.
This is probably the last time we get to see these two go head-to-head on a regular basis, you would think.
David Morgan (03:42)
I would think so. I don’t envisage Joao coming in for a long period again. And yeah — as you say — the clock’s ticking on both of their careers anyway, really.
Host (03:52)
One knock-on effect of Moreira returning as stable jockey for Caspar Fownes is Caspar Fownes’ Trainers’ Championship chances. He leads after 48 meetings.
He has 36 wins, leads by one to Mark Newnham and David Hayes. Then there’s Danny Shum on 32 wins, then Francis Lui.
And lurking back there in sixth place, John Size on 26 wins — ten adrift of the leader with 40 meetings to go. Can’t really rule out J J Size from there, can you?
David Morgan (04:33)
Absolutely not. I think there are definitely six men in that title race and John Size is definitely a candidate.
On Moreira: I think that’s exactly what Caspar is looking for. He wants that extra boost — something extra that Joao Moreira can bring. He doesn’t use Zac Purton much; he’s used him very rarely in the last few years.
So bringing in a jockey of Moreira’s calibre — someone who can match Purton — is something he hasn’t been able to have consistently. And he gets first dibs on him.
I don’t know how you quantify it exactly, but Moreira is going to get wins that Caspar Fownes would not have got without him. That’s a given.
So it’s going to have an impact on the title race. Then it comes down to Caspar: has he got the horses positioned — handicap marks, wellbeing — to deliver? He’s proven he can do it before.
Host (05:43)
What I really love about the chemistry between Caspar and Joao is tactical. There’s no one better than Caspar at manoeuvring in the system and coming up with a plan from the barrier draw. He loves the game — whatever the draw, whatever the situation, he loves to think the race.
And he’s got a bunch of horses in those middle grades, yo-yoing around in the system, older horses, trying to find ways to win.
So it’s not just “Joao vs Zac” as a storyline — it’s tactically, in a race, there’s no better trainer I’d like to see Moreira linked with.
And I think sometimes too much is made of the idea that Moreira isn’t good tactically. Plenty of other jockeys would love to be as good tactically as he is. But when you put him next to a real mastermind like Zac Purton, his strengths don’t look the same.
Still — match made in heaven: Caspar sends him out with confidence to do something flexible, maybe even surprise tactics if they go slow.
And Caspar also has a really in-form five-pound claimer in Ellis Wong he can deploy as well. It’s a good mix.
And as we said: from April 7 to July 15 at Happy Valley — there’s going to be something happening in every race.
Host (08:07)
Moving on to the next storyline: the Triple Crown. We waited 31 years for a Triple Crown winner in Voyage Bubble — and we might get one right away the following season.
Romantic Warrior took the Stewards’ Cup this Sunday at Sha Tin. The Hong Kong Gold Cup looks like a real standout again — Romantic Warrior vs Voyage Bubble, round two.
Do you see this going any differently? If Romantic Warrior beat Voyage Bubble at Voyage Bubble’s best distance, now they get to Romantic Warrior’s best distance at 2000 metres — any chance Voyage Bubble turns the tables this weekend?
David Morgan (09:18)
I don’t think so. I think Romantic Warrior is just the better horse. There are only six runners, and Romantic Warrior is such a straightforward horse and a straightforward ride. I honestly don’t see anything beating him.
If we’re looking for something, maybe at 2000 metres can something go his way — but it’s a stretch on ratings. It’s a stretch to see something like My Wish improving enough to beat Romantic Warrior.
There are no givens in racing, but this weekend it looks like Romantic Warrior’s race.
Then you go to the mile-and-a-half in May — the Champions and Chater Cup — and that can be a different proposition. We’ve seen funny results over the years. Ambitious Dragon was the best horse in Hong Kong and got beaten in it when he was going for the Triple Crown.
Romantic Warrior has been beaten in it once before too, when he was younger. So that will be really interesting. And you’ll have overseas runners potentially — sometimes Japan, sometimes even Europe — so that could add pressure.
Host (10:49)
The depth in these middle-distance races is really poor. Thank goodness for Voyage Bubble, Romantic Warrior, and Ka Ying Rising right now.
David Morgan (11:02)
Absolutely. You’ve basically got three outstanding horses — two champion-level standouts and a very, very good Group 1 racehorse — and they’re papering over the cracks a bit.
On the flip side, it’s incredible Hong Kong has three this good at once. But there’s no doubt there’s a dearth just below them compared to previous eras.
Host (11:55)
That brings us to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series. It continues this Sunday with the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
The Classic Mile was taken out by Little Paradise — visually spectacular. There’s been debate about whether the race shape flattered him, but regardless, the acceleration was eye-catching.
This weekend, there’s interesting opposition: Numbers comes off a Group 3 win — albeit with a light weight — and he skipped the first leg. We’re recording Tuesday. Who starts favourite on Sunday?
David Morgan (13:02)
I think Little Paradise starts favourite. He was visually impressive, and people remember that. His record going in was good, too.
I spoke to Vincent Ho a week ago. Vincent was confident Little Paradise would have won even if he hadn’t been checked — he said it helped, no question, but he believes the horse would have won anyway.
Vincent also said we’re not at Golden Sixty level yet, but he hasn’t sat on a horse that can accelerate like that since Golden Sixty. That tells you something.
Host (14:10)
The Classic Cup is notorious for upsets. There’s probably a little more depth here.
And on the “held up” point: it may have made the move look even more spectacular — the burst.
If you go to Idol Horse, we’ve got the Hong Kong Derby Power Rankings — a panel’s top 14 updated through the series.
Numbers elevated to number one for Frankie Lor off that 1800-metre win. He’s a throwback — second in the Queensland Derby, genuine stamina — and that’s rarer now with Australian prize money so strong.
There aren’t many in this field with genuine 1800 to 2000 ability. It’s fascinating tactically: Numbers has led and stalked speed.
In our rankings: Numbers one, Little Paradise two, Sagacious Life three, Beauty Bolt an interesting runner for Tony Cruz, then Invincible Ibis.
Invincible Ibis is interesting because they’ve ridden him very cold. Is the Classic Cup the time to spring a tactics change, or do you wait for Derby day?
David Morgan (17:08)
It depends what the owner wants — and they probably want the Derby, so they might not mess around too much.
But when I think of Classic Cup upsets, it’s usually a horse that gets out in front and gets away from them. Most of them have been that way: a horse gets out, keeps going, and they don’t catch it.
Host (17:31)
You can’t remember their names because they never win again — that’s the kind of horse. Thunder Fantasy, I think.
Derek Leung rides Numbers — he’ll be up on the speed. Frankie Lor won one as well: Mission Tycoon. Healthy Happy too.
It’s that in-between race: 1800 metres, long run to the first turn, you can get into order — but half the field might not truly stay, ridden gently, and the other half can get in the way. It has upset written all over it.
But a really great horse can overcome that and win it.
And beyond the series: who comes out of this group and steps into that next tier behind Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble — or even challenges at 2400? Numbers has genuine staying form.
David Morgan (19:46)
He’s got stamina in the pedigree. His dam, I think, was second in the New Zealand St Leger. There’s a Sydney Cup winner as the second dam. He’s got stamina and he looks like he’s got the quality to step up. He could be a Champions and Chater Cup type.
Sagacious Life as well — I wouldn’t write him off.
And I’m fascinated by the horses that aren’t here: there were three earlier in the season that looked like real stars for the series, but they’ve had setbacks — Bulk General, Massive Contender, and Sky Jewelry.
We saw Bulk General in a barrier trial this morning at Sha Tin — given an easy time — so he’s on the way back. Massive Contender was back cantering early this week. Sky Jewelry has been back in work since early January.
So there are horses who could still emerge late in the season and show they belong with the best of this crop.
Host (21:36)
A left-field storyline: it’s next-season, but I think it impacts this season. James Cummings.
I can’t remember a situation like this — such a public announcement with so much lead time. He’s at the track, at the barrier trials, watching, learning, meeting people. Trainers are literally looking over their shoulders and he’s standing there.
It’s a fascinating scenario.
David Morgan (23:18)
Without question. He can basically do a year-long master’s degree in Hong Kong racing before he starts. He can analyse, watch, see what every trainer is doing, see what works, do a lot of homework.
It’s very different to a local assistant trainer getting a licence — they’ve been in Hong Kong racing a long time. And it’s different to an expat arriving cold with only a few months.
He’s got something in between — a full season runway.
So it’s going to be fascinating how many contacts he makes and what horses he can secure to start with.
Host (24:35)
He’s already buying horses — that’s the rare thing. He spent about half a million Australian dollars on a ready-to-run horse in New Zealand — getting that system set up.
And we don’t yet know who will be retiring next season. There’s more flexibility around licence extensions now.
On the expat vs local trainer point: expats are generally recruited from overseas achievements — though Douglas Whyte was a case of a licence via extensive Hong Kong experience. But even he didn’t have this long a runway.
David Morgan (25:46)
Not this long.
And Caspar Fownes is considered an expat trainer, but of course his father trained in Hong Kong — so Caspar has that deep background knowledge of the system.
Host (26:13)
So who does this put pressure on? For mine, it’s not just the struggling trainers — it’s the trainers who haven’t fully established a foothold in the system.
Brett Crawford’s been impressive in his first season with stable transfers coming to him. In our season preview, I wrote that Brett Crawford was under pressure knowing James Cummings is right on his tail.
Who do you think is under the most pressure for the remaining 40 meetings?
David Morgan (27:07)
I agree: it’s the trainers who haven’t established a foothold, especially those who arrived with reputations and haven’t made it click.
Jamie Richards is one in that bracket — high profile, high expectations, and when it doesn’t deliver, you’re under pressure quickly.
With James Cummings coming in, owners can shift attention to the “new guy”. That makes it harder for those in the middle.
David Eustace had a really good first season; this season has been solid, but he hasn’t quite kicked on. You can see pressure mounting.
It’s Hong Kong — it’s fickle and things can change quickly.
Host (28:30)
Looking forward to the remainder of the season — and this weekend too. Big weekend of World Pool and simulcast racing with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Super Saturday in Dubai, the precursor to Dubai World Cup night.
David, you watch Dubai closely — what should we look forward to there?
David Morgan (28:46)
A raft of good races — the Maktoum Classic. Watch out for Bhupat Seemar’s horses; he’s got a stack of them. Imperial Emperor won the Maktoum Challenge last time on the path to the Dubai World Cup.
Entries are out tomorrow — will Laurel River be in there? That’ll be interesting. He hasn’t run much since the World Cup.
And Chris So from Hong Kong is taking Sing Dragon for the Mahab Al Shamal. It’s a stiff task, but you never know.
Host (29:31)
He’s not quite at the level of the dirt horses that have succeeded in Dubai. Rich Tapestry was a real trailblazer for Hong Kong dirt horses overseas — genuinely good. Is Sing Dragon good enough to compete — not just here, but beyond?
David Morgan (30:03)
He has to step up quite a lot. He’s not in the league of Rich Tapestry. On ratings, he has plenty to find. If he can run in the prize money, he’s done really well.
But he’s unexposed — he might find more on that surface. You don’t really know until you try.
Host (30:38)
Looking forward to it — and looking forward to the simulcast from Australia for World Pool on February 28: Australian Guineas Day and Very Elegant Stakes Day from Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
Thanks for joining us, David. Looking forward to a big weekend of racing.
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