Jockey Club chief Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges lays down the law: Joao Moreira can only return to Hong Kong on our terms
Hong Kong ‘is not a place you can walk in and out of’
By Tom Biddington
13 Oct 2018
Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has a clear message for Joao Moreira – Hong Kong “is not a place you can walk in and out of”.
The jungle drums have been beating loudly, suggesting a return to Sha Tin is on the cards for the three-time champion, but Engelbrecht-Bresges declined to say whether he had spoken to the Magic Man or not.
However, he made it clear that Moreira, who found out on Thursday he would not receive a full-time licence in Japan, could only come back in the right circumstances.
“We have never closed the door, but this is not a place you can walk in and out of, therefore Joao has to decide what he wants to do and what his future is,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“His dream was to ride in Japan and is that his dream going forward or not? He is a very good jockey and everybody in the world would say he enhances the racing product, but we have not been, and will never be, dependent on one jockey.
“He has to make up his mind and one has to give him time because of the disappointment [of missing out]. But it is not only him, it is something the family has to decide. If he wants to make an application, he is free to and it will be considered on merit.”
The manner of the Brazilian’s exit from Hong Kong is also a sore spot with the Jockey Club, however it is not an insurmountable one.
Moreira withdrew his application the day before the licensing committee was due to meet, leaving the club in an awkward position without a backup plan.
“For me it was not personally frustrating, but it is a matter of respect that one should make the announcement a little bit earlier, not one day before the licensing committee,” Engelbrect-Bresges said.
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“It affected our planning, it was definitely not what I would call proper. But people change their mind, it is not the end of the world, but we are not the sort of place where you get a surprise and say nothing has happened.”
Silvestre de Sousa, now a three-time champion rider of Britain, announced in his blog that he will be spending the winter in Hong Kong, joining Alexis Badel, who had already been confirmed.
“[De Sousa] gave an indication [he is coming] but it is up to the licensing committee to approve it,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“I think people would be surprised what kind of discussion we have and we look at the portfolio of jockeys. Definitely a person like De Sousa would fit.”
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What makes the De Sousa part of the equation interesting is that he had no interest in making the trip if he had to compete against his Moreira.
“We have made certain plans and we will honour plans other jockeys have made and commitments they have made,” Engelbrecht-Bresges
