It would not be hard to argue that the current crop of Hong Kong jockeys is one of the strongest in recent memory – so why was a return to the city for Joao Moreira talked about as if it were a certainty?

There is no debating that the “Magic Man” is one of the best jockeys to ever grace Hong Kong, racking up 1,235 wins and being champion jockey on four occasions.

His regular tussles with Zac Purton were something to savour and he is internationally acclaimed - his talent is certainly not up for debate.

But as Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has said in the past, Hong Kong “is not a place you can walk in and out of”.

That was evidenced when Moreira was knocked back on a short-term stable jockey licence, with the likes of Hollie Doyle, Dylan Browne McMonagle and Maxime Guyon given the green light instead.

That news was met with disbelief and almost condemnation by certain corners of the racing fraternity, something that seemed rather insulting to the current crop of jockeys and the list of incoming winter names.

Hollie Doyle has set the bar for female jockeys around the world, winning 11 Group One races and riding 100 or more winners in Britain in every season since 2019.

She was the first woman to win a European Classic when Nashwa won the Group One Prix de Diane in 2022, and she has won races in nearly every corner of the globe.

Dylan Browne McMonagle is regarded as one of the best talents coming out of Ireland. The 22-year-old is already a five-time Group One winner and is on the verge of toppling Colin Keane to become Irish champion jockey.

And Maxime Guyon needs no introduction, although we can still give him one. A 47-time Group One hero, he is world acclaimed and is only a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe away from completing the full set in France.

Let us not forget James McDonald is also coming over for his customary stint, where we will once again be treated to his battles with Purton.

So why should Moreira be given the golden highway over any of these jockeys without even a discussion?

Yes, Moreira has been one of the best jockeys in the world and the mental toughness it has taken for him to bounce back from his physical and mental struggles is admirable, but his reputation alone cannot give him a free pass any more.

Do I hope we see Moreira in Hong Kong again before his retirement? Of course – he is a legend in these parts and he deserves to again take the acclaim of the city before the sun sets on his career.

How tough the current landscape is for jockeys has been on display this season, with the incoming Richard Kingscote and David Probert both yet to fire this campaign.

That is not for a lack of effort or talent – they both came to Hong Kong with big reputations in the UK but have struggled for those big opportunities thus far.

You even have Matthew Poon Ming-fai and Keagen de Melo sitting on duck eggs for the season too, which further illustrates how difficult opportunities are to come by.

Even if you do get them, you are then fighting against a swag of other hungry and talented jockeys desperate to ride winners.

The level of talent on show and the competitiveness of Hong Kong racing means winning is extremely tough, no matter who you are.

We should be praising the current crop of jockeys and celebrating the world-class riders who have been recruited to further deepen the talent pool over the winter.

While the disappointment around the Moreira decision is understandable, there is still plenty to be positive about.