World leading jockey Ryan Moore is expected to take up his ride on Vela Azul (JPN) in next Sunday's Grade 2 Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo after his fall at Kyoto on Sunday.

Moore injured his back in the fall and was stood down from his remaining rides at the meeting including on the subsequent winner of the Grade 1 Mile Championship winner Namur (JPN) with replacement rider Kota Fujioka completing the task.

After the Japan Cup Moore is due to ride in Hong Kong in the LONGINES IJC at The Valley on Wednesday night, December 6th, and the LONGINES HKIR meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 10th.

Moore is no stranger to the LONGINES IJC, having won the event twice. The Englishman currently sits at the top of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey rankings and is a leading chance to win his fourth World’s Best Jockey title. Among his elite 2023 achievements is a string of Group 1 triumphs aboard Auguste Rodin in Great Britain, Ireland and the United States.

He will join a high class line up of international jockeys for the IJC including James McDonald, Rachel King, four-time German Champion Jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, UK's Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle, Japan’s Yuga Kawada and France’s Mickael Barzalona.

Ryan Moore, picture Liesl King