Joao Moreira has no doubt June Take will be a key player in an outstanding renewal of the HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on Sunday (26 April).
The four-time Hong Kong champion jockey has returned to Hong Kong on a short-term licence and will partner his first Group 1 rides since making the move back to the city on FWD Champions Day.
They include the G2 Kyoto Kinen (2200m) winner June Take, who he believes has what it takes to compete with the likes of Romantic Warrior, Masquerade Ball, Royal Champion and Sosie.
Moreira said: “I have no doubt he could be a player. I think he’s going to be right there with them. Could he be the winner? We’ll have to see how the race plays out.
“He’s going to have to come to a different level to put himself ahead of the top horses. However, I’m taking the reins and I’m riding him with all of the faith.”
The jockey has partnered June Take in several pieces of trackwork this week, including a gallop which resulted in the horse being assessed by on-course veterinarians.
However, he was cleared to race by The Hong Kong Jockey Club on Saturday (25 April) and Moreira believes what happened was due to a quirk in his character.
“He seems to need company,” he said. “He found himself in a new environment and he was hesitating about it. Once he pulled up, I thought there was an issue with him but there wasn’t.
“He was fine, he definitely had some problem with regards to being by himself. He pulled up quicker than I thought.”
While the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) winner Masquerade Ball will be Japan’s number one seed in the FWD QEII Cup on Sunday, Moreira believes June Take deserves admiration.
“Usually, a Group 2 winner in Japan, you’ve got to be a very nice horse to do that,” he said. “It means he deserves some respect. It’s a bloody strong race as there are some of the best horses in the world in the field.
“When I got offered the ride, I had no second thoughts. I don’t think there was going to be a better ride for me and if anything happens to the favourites, he could be the one coming up.”
FWD Champions Day will take place at Sha Tin on Sunday, 26 April.