Ryan Moore made a successful comeback from injury at Lingfield on Wednesday, notably winning the prominent BetMGM Winter Oaks Trial Fillies Handicap riding Morofore. The top Ballydoyle jockey had been out since late August due to a stress fracture in his femur, missing opportunities to compete with promising young horses like Diamond Necklace, Precise, Puerto Rico, and Gstaad, as well as missing key moments in Delacroix’s career.
Returning to the Surrey track, Moore nearly secured victory in his first race back but was narrowly edged out while riding George Bouie’s favored Sovereign Wealth in the BetMGM Nursery Handicap. He quickly redeemed himself by winning the Join the Midnight Movement Novice Stakes on Lazar, a 1-2 favorite trained by Richard Hughes, finishing with a half-length lead.
Moore shared with Sky Sports Racing, “It’s been a while, so it’s nice to be back.” He later finished fourth on William Haggas’s Evening Fade in BetMGM’s Golden Golds EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies Stakes before taking the reins on Morofore, the 5-4 favorite owned by John and Sadie Gosden, in the main event. Trainer Moore praised Morofore, noting her progress despite a slow start in her previous race, saying, “She’s a great big filly who will probably go a little further,” and highlighted her good attitude and physical balance.
Although Moore was unlucky in his final ride of the day, he is eagerly anticipating the upcoming International Meeting in Hong Kong, where he will ride horses like Los Angeles and The Lion in Winter, trained by Aidan O’Brien, on Sunday. Moreover, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has named him as a participant in the International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley on December 10th.
Moore expressed excitement about these upcoming events, stating, “We’ve got some runners on Sunday, and we’ll be riding at Happy Valley next week, so I’m looking forward to it,” and added, “The International Jockeys Championship is on Wednesday, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Fan Take: Ryan Moore’s return is a huge boost for the horse racing world, signaling that top-tier talent is back in action and ready to compete at the highest level. His participation in international events like those in Hong Kong also helps strengthen the global appeal and competitive spirit of the sport.
