Four-time Hong Kong champion jockey Joao Moreira has applauded Caspar Fownes after the veteran trainer secured his fifth Hong Kong trainers’ championship ahead of Wednesday’s season-ending meeting at Happy Valley. The title was confirmed at Sha Tin on Sunday, leaving the final fixture of the 2025/26 campaign as an opportunity for the championship-winning stable to finish on another successful note.
Happy Valley Season Finale 2025/26.
Moreira returned to Hong Kong on a short-term riding contract with Fownes during the closing weeks of the season and played an important role in the stable’s championship-winning campaign. The Brazilian partnered 27 of the trainer’s 69 winners, providing a significant contribution as Fownes wrapped up the trainers’ premiership with one meeting remaining.
The former champion rider credited Fownes’ horsemanship and consistency for the title success, noting that the trainer had once again demonstrated an ability to maximise the potential of his horses throughout the campaign. Moreira also expressed satisfaction at being able to contribute during a crucial stage of the season while strengthening his hopes of returning to Hong Kong on a longer-term basis next year.
The 42-year-old heads into the Happy Valley Season Finale 2025/26 in excellent form, having recorded 30 winners from 185 rides this season. He has five mounts for the newly crowned champion trainer on Wednesday’s nine-race programme and will be aiming to end the campaign with another productive evening.
One of the stable’s leading hopes is Pejibaye, who lines up in the Class 4 Star Shine Handicap over 1200 metres. The four-year-old enjoyed a promising first season with a victory and three runner-up finishes before an uncharacteristically disappointing performance on the Sha Tin dirt earlier this month. That defeat was largely attributed to the gelding’s behaviour before the start, which compromised his chances from the outset.
Despite that setback, confidence remains high within the stable. Pejibaye has continued to work well in training and is expected to show the ability that marked him as one of Fownes’ progressive young sprinters if he begins cleanly and settles into his race.
Moreira also reunites with Somelovefromabove in the Class 3 Encountered Handicap over 1650 metres. The Australian-bred has enjoyed a productive campaign with three victories but has found stronger opposition in Class 3 since moving up in grade during April. Connections are hopeful that the increase in distance and an inside draw can help the four-year-old return to winning form before the season concludes.
The Happy Valley Season Finale 2025/26 features a nine-race card beginning at 6.30pm, with the Class 5 Silver Grecian Handicap over 1650 metres opening the programme. While the trainers’ championship has already been decided, the final meeting of the season offers Fownes and Moreira another opportunity to add to their impressive partnership before the curtain falls on the 2025/26 Hong Kong racing campaign.
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