Ryan Moore confirmed he is back among the elite by winning the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley, claiming the title for the third time. The 42-year-old, who previously won in 2009 and 2010, sealed victory aboard Triumphant More.
Moore had missed the closing stages of the Flat season with a stress fracture of his femur and only returned to riding a week earlier, when he quickly got back to winning ways at Lingfield. At Happy Valley he produced two winners — Corleone and Triumphant More — to top the leaderboard after the four legs.
“I’m very fortunate to be coming back here after so many years, it’s been a long time since I last won it,” Moore said, reflecting on his success. He added that his two rides worked out well and that he had “the luck tonight,” praising Triumphant More’s acceleration and turn of foot.
William Buick finished joint-second after guiding Bunta Baby to victory in the opening leg, a five-furlong handicap he won by a neck. “He’s done it well in the end, he came from far back and he’s covered a lot of ground there,” Buick said, noting it was his first winner at Happy Valley. Hugh Bowman shared second place, while Hollie Doyle finished out of the money.