Joao Moreira has been booked for one of the premier rides of the Australian spring with the Brazilian set to partner favourite Ascoli Piceno in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2.
Shortly after the Japanese three-year-old arrived in Sydney alongside fellow Golden Eagle runners Corazon Beat, Lazzat and Lake Forest, it was confirmed that Moreira would be aboard Ascoli Piceno in Australia’s second richest race.
Regular rider Christophe Lemaire will instead be at the Breeders’ Cup meeting for rides including Derma Sotogake in the Classic. Also overlooked was Hiroshi Kitamura, who won the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (1600m) aboard the filly last December.
While Moreira is yet to ride the filly, he has ridden against Ascoli Piceno twice for a 1-1 record. He brought about her first defeat in the G1 Oka Sho (1600m) in April, defeating her by three-quarters of a length aboard Stellenbosch, while he was behind her in the G1 NHK Mile Cup (1600m) in May: Ascoli Piceno was second to Jantar Mantar with Moreira a half-length away from the filly in fourth on Gonbade Qabus.
Japan won the Golden Eagle for the first time last year with Obamburumai. While the Discreet Cat colt was also an NHK Mile Cup placegetter, Ascoli Piceno’s credentials are considered superior. Obamburumai had a peak JRA rating of 111, while Ascoli Piceno has run to 113; she will also carry two kilograms less, meaning that she is approximately six pounds better off than last year’s winner.
Moreira will be joined at Rosehill by international riders Cieren Fallon (Lake Forest) and Antonio Orani (Lazzat), who will both make their Australian debuts at the meeting. Corazon Beat will be ridden by Tommy Berry, as revealed by Idol Horse last week.
Among their likely Australian rivals will be Group 1 winners Ceolwulf, Southport Tycoon, Celestial Legend, Joliestar, Stefi Magnetica, Tom Kitten and Veight.
Before his Sydney sojourn, Moreira is set to partner Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo in the Caulfield Cup this Saturday as he searches for his ninth Australian Group 1 success. Japan will also be represented in the race by Warp Speed for trainer Noboru Takagi and jockey Akira Sugawara ∎
