Zero Hedge made all to land the Australian Turf Club Trophy Handicap (1200m) for the John Size/Joao Moreira alliance at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday night.

That win for Moreira was a required riposte to rival Zac Purton’s score in the evening’s opener and ensured that the defending champion remained within three wins of the premiership leader with three meetings remaining.

Joao Moreira takes the Australian Turf Club Trophy on Zero Hedge, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Brazilian star was quick to heap praise on soon-to-be 10-time champion trainer Size, who took his own season’s tally to 87 after completing a double initiated when the Karis Teetan-ridden Noble Delight took race four. 

“John Size, we know, is a great trainer, he has been doing so well and once again he had this horse spot on – it makes a jockey’s life easier!” Moreira said after steering the four-year-old to a two-length victory at odds of 2.4. 

That was the rider’s third win from six rides on the Medaglia D’Oro gelding.

“He does nothing wrong, he’s a pretty straightforward horse,” he said. “Today he had a beautiful run in front. The other horse came and gave him a challenge but when we straightened up he was full of himself and just ran away.” 

Purton, meanwhile, enjoyed an uncomplicated score in the Class 5 opener thanks to 6.5 shot Actuariat, trained by long-time ally Paul O’Sullivan. With one win apiece, the Australian led Moreira 129-126 at the end of the night.

Zac Purton took the opener on Actuariat and ended the night three ahead in the title race, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club

While the premiership’s top two are engaged in a fascinating duel, a little way down the order, Derek Leung and Matthew Poon are locked in a battle of their own for the Tony Cruz Award, presented to the season’s top homegrown Hong Kong rider. Leung took the prize last term but faces a tough scrap to claim the title again with Poon pushing hard in pursuit.

The latter closed the gap between the pair to two wins when driving the Derek Cruz-trained Good Companion to victory in race three, section two of the Class 4 Carnation Handicap (1200m), for his 33rd score this term. But Leung hit back, regaining a three-win cushion over the apprentice when urging Brazilian G1 winner Salto Olimpico, a 16/1 chance, to a hard-fought success in the Class 4 Galdiolus Handicap (1800m).  

“The Tony Cruz Award is important to me,” Leung said. “It’s a good reward for me and for the trainers and owners who have supported me, so I want to win it again. Matthew is pushing me and it’s good to have this competition with him, it keeps us more focused and hungry.” 

Matthew Chadwick has had to dig in through a tougher-than-usual campaign and arrived at the Valley with only two mounts tonight as he tried to add to this season’s tally of 17. The former star apprentice made the first count, punching Sparkling Sword to a half-length triumph in the Class 4 Camellia Handicap (1650m). 

Apprentice Victor Wong landed his 13th win this term when the Me Tsui-trained Thunder Stomp landed the penultimate contest, the Class 3 Lotus Handicap (1650m).

Derek Leung drives Salto Olimpico to a tough win, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club