Christophe Soumillon
Viva Pataca made his Asian racing debut at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on 1 January 2006, finishing third in the 1400 metre Chang Jiang Handicap. Two weeks later, under new jockey Christophe Soumillon, he won the 1600 metre New Asia Road Handicap then in mid February won the Chukyo Handicap. In late March, Viva Pataca won his first Group One race when he gave trainer John Moore his second win in the Hong Kong Derby. In April, jockey Gerald Mosse rode him to a sixth-place finish behind winner Iridescence in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. At the end of May he came back with a win under jockey Michael Kinane in the Group One Champions &amp; Chater Cup.