JOAO Moreira became just the fifth rider in Hong Kong racing history to reach the 700-win milestone at Sha Tin last Saturday, partnering a treble, but the Brazilian could not make any headway on rival Zac Purton in the jockeys’ championship as the Australian produced a treble of his own.

Moreira took the opener aboard the Michael Freedman-trained Lightning Steed, to join Douglas Whyte (1788), Tony Cruz (946), Purton (843) and Prebble (806) in the 700 club.

“It is very special,” said Moreira. “As I have said a number of times before, I never dreamed that I could reach such a number in Hong Kong, so I’m very pleased and proud of what I have achieved here. There is still plenty I want to achieve though, so hopefully it’s the start of a number of good things down the road for me.” However, it was also a case of what might have been for Moreira as he was relegated to the runner-up stall on four occasions, including twice behind Purton.

The Lung Mun Road Handicap was not just a clash between two jockeys at the peak of their powers, but for John Size and Frankie Lor, also a battle between master and apprentice on a significant day for both trainers.

Size, who is set to be crowned Hong Kong’s champion trainer for a record 10th time at the conclusion of the season, saddled up Hezthewonforus, but he could not topple his former assistant Lor, who scored the first leg of a race-to-race double with Frankel gelding Simply Brilliant.

Simply Brilliant’s win saw Lor equal Size’s record of 58 wins for a freshman trainer. By the end of the meeting, Lor stood alone at the peak of the summit with 59 wins.

Purton, as he returned to the weighing room with Lor, quipped: “This man, right here, is the new John Size.”

But Lor, humble as ever, said that the goalposts had changed since Size’s debut season in 2001/02.

“I am very proud of reaching this number, but it is a little bit different, because when the boss got 58, there were only 78 meetings,” Lor said. “Now, there are 88 meetings and we are already at 81 so it has taken me longer! I’m still very proud though, my team has done a great job and I’m so grateful to the owners too. I hope I still have more wins left in me before the end of the season.”

The stalemate in the jockeys’ championship means that Purton still holds a five-win lead over Moreira, 124 to 119, with seven meetings remaining in the season.