Immediately after Clipperton’s misfortune, Umberto Rispoli edged a will-he-won't-he duel to the wire in the Class 4 University Hall Handicap (1600m).

The Italian’s mount Po Ching Treasure (118lb) slipped up the inside rail to head the Moreira-ridden favourite Infinity Endeavour (129lb). But once there, the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding seemed to have second thoughts as the Size-trained 2.9 favourite rallied, only to fail by a nose on the nod.

“He got there and then he just thought he’d done enough and tried to stop,” Fownes said after watching the 14/1 shot break his Hong Kong maiden at start 39. “He’s got it in him to win again… but you wouldn’t hold your breath!”

Moreira kicked off his double with a fine piece of jockeyship on the Michael Chang-trained Silly Buddies in race three, the Class 4 HKU Faculty of Business & Economics Handicap (1200m, all-weather).

“If I didn't have Joao today, honestly, I don't think the horse would have won. He gave it the perfect ride,” Chang said after the 4.7 shot had quickened up the inner to score by a length.

Apprentice Matthew Poon teamed up with trainer Benno Yung to land a double: the duo took the first, the Class 4 HKU Faculty of Architecture Handicap (1000m) with 7.9 chance Lunar Zephyr and teamed up again in race eight to win the HKU Faculty of Engineering Handicap (1200m, all-weather) with 8/1 top-weight Perpetual Treasure (133lb).

Fellow 10lb apprentice Dylan Mo took race two, the Class 5 HKU Faculty of Dentistry Handicap (1200m, all-weather) aboard the Peter Ho-trained Massive Move, a 19/1 shot.

So doubled up with the Derek Leung-ridden Classic Emperor in an eventful race nine, the Class 3 HKU Faculty of Arts Handicap (1400m). Jockeys Keith Yeung and Ben So both hit the turf after Yeung’s mount, Victory Day, hit the inside rail and pitched his rider, resulting in apprentice So being unseated from Mr Potential.