Sha Tin’s Jockey Challenge a showdown between Joao Moreira and Zac Purton

The Jockey Challenge appears to be a race in two on paper but Joao Moreira looks the most likely winner, with 12 points seemingly already banked courtesy of Pakistan Star.

With a solid book of rides including Griffin Trophy favourite Pakistan Star, Moreira might have the edge over Zac Purton, but only just.

Purton actually has a rare numerical advantage over his rival with a ride in each race, and some great chances of his own, while Moreira has 10 rides on the 11-race card.

Still, it is Pakistan Star, a rising star that is likely to start incredibly short odds in a seven-runner race, that should win and give Moreira a big boost early.

Purton’s day starts strongly, with good rides in the two Class Fives on Rugby Diamond and Imperial Seal and he has the best chance of upsetting Pakistan Star in the Griffin trophy on John Moore’s in-form front-runner Sea Jade.

The two jockeys are on the first two in early betting for race four as well, with Moreira on Danny Shum Chap-shing’s four-year-old Autopay and Purton aboard Paul O’Sullivan’s Hot Hot Pepper.

In fact this scenario, with the two going head-to-head with horses stationed at the top of the market, is set to play out on a number of occasions throughout the afternoon.

Moreira has an edge in some of the races though, including on House Of Fun in the Class Three fifth race, in which Purton takes the reins on import Istanbul Bey, set to jump an outsider at its first local start.

Later, Purton is on one of the best bets of the day when he partners D B Pin in a Class Three straight race, the Australian jockey climbing back aboard after Karis Teetan rode the John Size-trained sprinter to victory last time with a light weight.

Moreira finishes the day more strongly though with a trio of Size-trained chances in races nine, 10 and 11.

Dinozzo will be out to further his claims for a place in the upcoming four-year-old series, Red Marvel looks on his right rating and is getting closer to a win, while My Darling has a fitness edge over Purton’s mount Beauty Generation in the last.