After enlivening a vintage Royal Randwick Championships, Joao Moreira is again on show at Hawkesbury today aboard mounts that could respond to his special touch.
Back in 2015, the Brazilian billed as The Magic Man arrived for the corresponding Randwick carnival with a world-beater reputation from Hong Kong, but his rabbit out of the hat was more turtle, and a deceased one at that.
Joao Moreira returns to scale on Militarize after winning the Champagne Stakes. Credit: Getty
Sleight-of-hand wasn’t evident: he was the last jockey beaten on Winx (in the Australian Oaks) and was downed in the Chairman’s Handicap on Grand Marshal ($3.50), which came out next start and scored in the Sydney Cup at $40 under Jim Cassidy.
But Chris Waller stuck solid and has been rewarded with the Moreira flair, which was evident in motivating two-year-old Militarize. Yes, Moreira didn’t ride a Warwick Farm winner on Wednesday, but he had four seconds, three of which were at $10 or longer.
Moreira featured in an all-star cast at Randwick, where fellow Hong Kong great Zac Purton and Englishman “Aussie” Tom Marquand went up against the world’s best jockey, James MacDonald, and one of the most powerful, Nash Rawiller, as well as outstanding young talents Dylan Gibbons and Zac Lloyd. Rarely do apprentices do so well against the best.
Perhaps Militarize, which gets a tick for Waller for producing two-year-olds this season that indicate improvement at three, can’t be compared with Giga Kick and I Wish I Win, which are putting substance into the sprinting ranks. Unlike the recent outstanding speedsters Nature Strip, Eduardo and Classique Legend, they have already indicated brilliance beyond 1200 metres.
Certainly New Zealand’s Pennyweka looked good winning the Australian Oaks, albeit against what could be common opposition. The Australian Derby, too, wasn’t exceptional. Again the Tulloch Lodge bone and muscle, now supplied by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and with Tim Clark exploiting it perfectly in saddle, got the job done.
Waller, though, will be chasing something extra from Moreira at Hawkesbury with Hometruths (Blakes Marine), Written Beauty (Crown), Lord Ardmore (Hawkesbury Cup) and the highly promising Estadio Mestalla (Clarendon Tavern).
Irish-bred Frankel mare Hometruths struck severe interference on her Australian debut. A subsequent barrier trial was acceptable despite finishing near the trail after being wide throughout but producing a good spurt late.
No doubt Written Beauty is in need of assistance. Best Bets opines: “She has so much talent but is her own worst enemy.” See what you can do, Joao.
Lord Ardmore is more straight up and away. Improved by two runs after a spell, the New Zealand-bred should race handy from the five draw over 1600m. Acceleration has been a problem for him.
Estadio Mestalla is another Irish-bred and a winner of three out of five. He is returning from a spell off the usual Waller two quiet barrier trials but did sufficient to indicate that he will be ready for the assignment.
Alas Wallerism – lesser fancied stablemates beating the better-favoured runner – could play a role given that the trainer also has Wicklow (under Rawiller) improved by one start after a spell and with an excellent second-up record. Amongst others, Spangler, which gave J-Mac the ride of the Championships, will have supporters.
Handling topliners gives navigators an edge, but when they triumph in a Midway like Spangler from a wide gate it confirms them as exceptional. And J-Mac carries the title, as does The Magic Man.
Hawkesbury may lack the horsepower of the Championships but the human element is right up there.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
