A rising star among Japanese racing fans, Joao Moreira is back in Japan with a short-term licence once again for the spring G1 season. He expressed his excitement ahead his two-month stint in Japan.

"I've been to Japan several times before, but I'm delighted to be able to come again. Besides horse racing, I'm also looking forward to spending time in Japan, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment," Moreira said with a smile. He obtained a short-term license last summer and autumn, but this is his first fully fledged participation in the spring season. With the opportunity to use his license for two months this year all in the spring, Moreira expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "Of course, I was aware that there are G1 races, but with the Classics happening, I applied for the short-term license."

In the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), Moreira will ride Stellenbosch for the first time. "Although she hasn't won a G1 yet, Stellenbosch finished second in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, so she has the ability. She's likely to have grown and improved as a three-year-old so there's a chance," he said. With the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) approaching next week, where he will ride Cosmo Kuranda, winner of the G2 Yayoi Sho, Moreira added, "I want to win as many races as possible in any conditions, not just G1s." With Christophe Lemaire out of action due to injury, Moreira is stepping in to become the central figure in the Classic scene.