RYAN MOORE REIGNS SUPREME IN THE IJC

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, December 11, 2025

Ryan Moore reminded everyone he is still the top dog of world racing, pulling off an incredible performance to win his third LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The whole competition was tighter than a Brisbane traffic jam with the result going right down to the final stride.

Heading into the last of the four legs, four jockeys were locked on 12 points — so it was basically anyone’s to win. Hugh Bowman, Moore and William Buick had all posted a win, while Zac Purton kept himself in the fight with a couple of handy seconds.

A few others were still lurking, hoping to pinch the whole thing in the final 1200-metre race.

But Moore saved his best trick for the big finish. Riding the aptly named Triumphant More in the fourth leg, he was sitting closer to last on the bend – and it looked like he would need a miracle. Instead, he threaded himself through the pack like a bloke weaving through traffic on the Bruce Highway, storming home to win by three-quarters of a length. A total outsider in the field paying $23 for the win. I suppose great jockeys can do special things.

Moore already had two LONGINES IJC titles to his name (2009 and 2010), plus four World’s Best Jockey trophies, and he had only just come back from a busted femur that kept him out of racing since August. Not a bad way to announce you are back – and he did it on the biggest stage of International racing – the LONGINES IJC.

“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,” Moore said. He also chalked up a win in the second leg on the front-running Corleone for Caspar Fownes. “It’s fortunate I had two very good rides today and it worked out nicely for me. I’m just thankful to be coming back here and I had the luck tonight.”

William Buick (England) finished equal runner-up with Hugh Bowman (representing Hong Kong - but we all know he is an Aussie).Both pocketed HK$200,000 each.

William Buick was stoked to crack a personal milestone in the opening 1000m dash. His mount Bunta Baby had gone 11 starts in Hong Kong without landing the chocolates, but had been teasing a win for weeks. This time, he finally let rip, swooping late to nail Purton and Beauty Thunder right near the post.

“It’s my first winner at Happy Valley, so I’m very happy to have achieved it,” Buick said. “He was coming off a good run last time and was one of my better chances tonight, so it’s great to get it done.”

Bowman did not have much luck early in the night, but he hit back with a vengeance in the third leg over 1650m. His ride, Silvery Breeze trained by David Eustace, had to sit tight waiting for a gap, but once Bowman found room, the horse took off like a “scorching breeze”, cruising past Zac Purton and Flying Fortress.

“It was very important for the way things were going,” Bowman said. “He’s been knocking on the door — his form’s been solid — and he got the set-up he needed tonight.”

And to round things out, Caspar Fownes (the King of the Valley) took home the LONGINES IJC trainers’ bonus with 16 points, edging out Cody Mo on countback. Fownes pocketed HK$300,000, Mo grabbed HK$125,000, and third place — worth HK$75,000 — was split between Eustace, Lor and Man on 12 points.

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