Joao Moreira rides six winners at Sapporo

Hong Kong champion Joao Moreira has dominated the Sapporo meeting in Japan with six winners but has still failed to defend the World All Star Jockeys' title.

His haul on Sunday came in races outside the designated events for the series won by Japan-based Italian Mirco Demuro with Australia's Craig Williams sixth of the 14 riders.

Moreira finished fifth in the series held over two days.

It was his last meeting of an off-season stint in Japan ahead of the renewal of racing in Hong Kong on Saturday.

"Of course it is fantastic to ride so many winners. It's been an amazing experience," Moreira told the South China Morning Post.

"But part of the reason I came here was to make sure I start the season at home as fit as I can be, and I think I have done that."

Moreira rode a record 168 winners in Hong last season.