When fan favourite Joao Moreira rides a Japanese horse in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), it pays to take notice.

From seven attempts aboard gallopers from the Land of the Rising Sun in the longest of the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) features, Moreira has produced victories aboard Satono Crown (2016) and Glory Vase (2019 and 2021) to go with placings atop Tosen Basil, Lys Gracieux and Glory Vase.

A flat stake to win on his eight rides would have delivered a 335 per cent return on investment and he looks to present a solid betting proposition aboard Stellenbosch this weekend.

While the three-year-old filly will need some luck from gate 13, her pilot knows his way around Sha Tin after years of dominating Hong Kong racing, she gets nine pounds off the rest of the field and brings genuine Group One form after winning at the elite level in April and placing twice behind Cervinia.

Stellenbosch is one of three Japanese raiders Moreira climbs aboard this weekend, with the jockey also teaming up with Soul Rush and Satono Reve, while he has picked up the undercard ride on Classic Series hopeful Packing Hermod for Francis Lui Kin-wai.

Envious Atzeni?

Elsewhere in the Vase, Andrea Atzeni may be looking on enviously as he locks horns with a couple of familiar gallopers aboard outsider Ka Ying Generation.

Before being moved to Australia and landing last year’s Caulfield Cup (2,400m)-Melbourne Cup (3,200m) Group One double for the Freedmans, Without A Fight had 18 runs for British handlers Simon and Ed Crisford, winning six of them with Atzeni in the saddle.

While Atzeni’s best result aboard Without A Fight was a Group Three victory, he tasted Group Two success aboard Giavellotto in last year’s Yorkshire Cup (2,800m).

While Ka Ying Generation is considered a $26 chance in overseas fixed-odds betting, Without A Fight sits at $4.5 and Giavellotto at $7.

‘Zac might not start favourite’

While James McDonald will be most focused on his history-chasing ride aboard Romantic Warrior in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) and his other feature mounts Voyage Bubble, Howdeepisyourlove and Ensued, the white-hot Kiwi rider likes his chances of delivering across the whole card on Sunday.

Fresh off a treble on Wednesday night, McDonald was bullish about his undercard hand when asked on Thursday.

“I’ve got four really good winning chances – Charming Legend, Family Jewel, Divano and Run Run Timing,” McDonald said.

“They’re all really good hopes. I’d expect them all to be fighting out the finish. Zac [Purton] might not start favourite in the Jockey Challenge for once.”

McDonald has hit the ground running since beginning his short-term stint on November 17, reeling off 10 winners in six meetings at a strike rate of 21 per cent to rocket into the top 10 in the premiership.

Hayes dreaming of 100 G1s

Ka Ying Rising will go off one of the shortest-priced favourites in HKIR history this weekend and for his trainer David Hayes, a victory in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) would mean a first elite-level success since Fifty Stars took out the 2020 Australian Cup (2,000m).

Hayes has spoken previously about hitting the triple-figure mark, and also matching his famous late father Colin’s Group One haul.

“Dad’s on 104 and I’m on 97. I think my last one was an Australian Cup,” said the 62-year-old.

“Hong Kong slows you down for Group Ones. It’s hard to get them here but Ka Ying Rising is a legitimate Group One horse. If it’s not this weekend, it will be very soon.”