The hottest favourite in Hong Kong racing history crossed the line at yesterday's licensing committee, but the meeting also produced news of a new claiming apprentice for the jockey roster.

Runaway championship leader Joao Moreira had been licensed only until Derby day, March 15, taking a cautious approach to his application to ride here this season following the string of suspensions he incurred in his first campaign.

Things are going splendidly for the Brazilian this time around, however, as he takes a 23-win break over reigning champion Zac Purton into the second half of the term and the committee confirmed yesterday that he is now ticketed as a club jockey until the finish of the current season.

"That's great - it's very exciting for me how this season will finish up," Moreira said in response to the formal announcement, which really would only have been significant in its absence.

"Clearly, I have a chance to win the championship, which is something that I have dreamed of and I really want to do it, so let's see."

At the other end of the scale, apprentice Jack Wong Ho-nam will become the only 10-pound claimer in town when he starts his local race riding career at Sha Tin on March 8.

Wong, who has been allocated to trainer Me Tsui Yu-sak, will be permitted to ride in races at Sha Tin from that point, but will have to await further approval before he can take rides at Happy Valley.

Wong, 21, has trained as an apprentice in New Zealand since joining John Sargent's Matamata stable in the second half of 2012. He has then been with Riccarton trainer Mike McCann until a further move to former champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan at Matamata in March last year.

Under O'Sullivan, who also oversaw the early development of current Hong Kong riders Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and Derek Leung Ka-chun, Wong has taken his career figures to 36 wins from 443 rides. His minimum riding weight is 103 pounds, so he is sure to be in demand.

With Mirco Demuro, Umberto Rispoli and Maxime Guyon all soon to conclude their contracts and depart for other jurisdictions, the committee had been expected to name at least one more club jockey for the final tranche of the season.

That did not happen but further announcements may come.