TOP jockey Joao Moreira has been hit with the biggest ban of his Hong Kong career – after pleading guilty under the ‘non-trier’ rule.
Stewards were praised by punters for coming down quickly and heavily on the ride, which will see Moreira – nicknamed ‘Magic Man’ – banned for six meetings.
The jockey was aboard 6-5 favourite Zone D at Happy Valley racecourse in Hong Kong – a track notorious throughout the world for huge punting.
On this race alone it was believed some £14.5million was staked across all markets with 10-1 winner Gorytus picking up £84,824.64.
After meeting interference while trying to cut a path down the rail, Moreira, in the all white silks, moved his mount out only to hit another wall of horses.
It wasn’t until a gap opened up about half a furlong out that Zone D hit top gear, ending up a fast-finishing fourth.
But the ride immediately caught the eye of stewards, who hauled Moreira in for questioning.
There he pleaded guilty to Rule 100(2), namely ‘failing to ride his mount out all the way to the end of the race to satisfaction of the stewards’.
Moreira, 37, from Brazil, had never been banned for more than three meetings before.
But he copped a six-meeting suspension for this finish, throwing open the door to rival Zac Purton in the jockey championship.
It also means Moreira will miss two Group 1s next month in the shape of the Gold Cup and The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
Punters said the stewards were the ‘gold standard’ of racing because they came down quickly on the jockey.
Comparing to racing in their country, another commented: “Can you imagine rules like this being enforced in the US?”
Another punter said: “Goes to show you how serious they are.”
Moreira’s ban kicks in on February 6 and will finish February 27.
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