June Take Cleared After Health Scare in Hong Kong: Jockey Moreira’s Quick Response Praised

A wave of concern swept through the racing community on April 22nd following a training incident involving June Take, a 4-year-old colt from Hideaki Take’s stable, ahead of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse. After completing his final piece of work under the guidance of star jockey Joao Moreira, the rider suddenly dismounted, and the horse was transported back to the stables via horsebox, sparking immediate alarm.

Social media was quickly flooded with worried messages, with many fans recalling a similar scare involving the champion mare Liberty Island last year. However, the tension turned to relief when a subsequent medical examination revealed no abnormalities. Fans expressed their gratitude on SNS, praising Moreira for his sharp intuition, with comments such as, I am so glad he is okay, and Moreira’s decision to dismount immediately after sensing something was wrong shows his greatness as a horseman.

Despite the clean bill of health, some fans remains cautious. Because a potential issue was sensed—even if not clinically confirmed—some have suggested the horse should skip the race to prioritize his long-term future, with some even suggesting a return for the Takarazuka Kinen in Japan instead. With Hong Kong's strict fitness standards for international runners in mind, all eyes are now on the stable's final decision and the horse's condition heading into this weekend's high-stakes showdown.

The context

The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (QEII Cup) is one of Hong Kong's most prestigious international Group 1 races, held annually at Sha Tin Racecourse. Japanese horses have a storied history of success in this race, often sending their top-tier middle-distance talent to compete. June Take is a rising star in the Japanese circuit, and the involvement of Joao Moreira—a legendary jockey known as the Magic Man—adds significant weight to his candidacy. The reference to Liberty Island highlights the high stakes and emotional investment Japanese fans have in their horses when they compete on the global stage, as any sign of injury can lead to intense public scrutiny regarding horse welfare and race-day scratches.

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