Joao Moreira is not standing still after the emotional high of Obataye’s G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano victory last weekend, with a Spring Carnival assignment lined up in Sydney and the prospect of a Hong Kong stint still very much in the pipeline later in the season.
The Brazilian superstar will ride at Randwick on Golden Eagle day, November 1, and while a mount in the lucrative feature has not yet been confirmed, he is locked in to partner the Japanese raider Strauss in the Russell Balding Stakes over 1300m that same afternoon.
Moreira will stay in Australia for the following week and be available for rides in the Melbourne Cup but is not confirmed and he said Strauss is the reason he will be in Australia.
“I have ridden him before,” Moreira said, “that is the reason I am going back: I was free, so why not get on a plane, ride a very nice horse and spend a few days in Australia?”
Moreira rode the headstrong four-year-old in his juvenile days, back in November 2023, when the talented son of Maurice earned a breakthrough stakes win in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai at his third start.
Strauss struggled to find his feet at three and has raced only three times this term. But the Ryo Takei-trained colt won first up for the year and last time out, in August, he was a good third in the G3 CBC Sho behind the prolific winner Invincible Papa and June Blair.
“His last run was outstanding. He dashed home like a proper race horse in a good race,” the ‘Magic Man’ continued. “Maybe the race (this time) isn’t strong: the best horses at that distance have just run at the Everest, so maybe connections have found the right race and he might just have a crack.
“I don’t know what he will be racing against but he is racing very well and he will have a chance if he brings his A-game – I think he has to be respected.
“He is a good horse, (but he is) making it a bit difficult for the jockeys and connections to get the best out of him. He is the type of horse that pulls a bit, but bringing him back in distance has helped him find his best.”
Meanwhile, Moreira is looking forward to riding in Hong Kong again on a short term licence. Trainer Caspar Fownes approached the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) earlier this campaign in an attempt to have the four-time Hong Kong champion licensed in the city for the last two months of the year, but that was refused due to a full roster.
But Moreira has been in contact with HKJC officials and he said the Club remains happy for the Brazilian to ride on a short-term licence later in the season should he apply.
“It just needs to be when the time he right for them,” he said.”I am hopeful I will be riding there in Hong Kong sometime this season and I can’t wait. I have a lot of support there and I am looking forward to it.” ∎
