Joao Moreira striving for elusive Melbourne Cup success

Joao Moreira has been runner-up twice in the Melbourne Cup which has made him hungrier to win our famous staying race.

Superstar Joao Moreira has declared the Melbourne Cup the race he most wants to win.

The globetrotting Brazilian jockey, a 43-time Group 1 winner, boasts top class success in seven countries.

“It’s such a big race and probably because I’ve run second twice,” Moreira said.

“It’s like, kind of pushing me inside, to wanting it more and more.”

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Moreira was runner-up in the Cup last year on Soulcombe and also finished second in 2016 with Heartbreak City.

Moreira, who has been riding in Japan, Brazil and South America the past 10 months, rated the Cup different to any major race in the world.

“100 per cent every race you can think of, it’s different,” Moreira said.

“The foundation of the race, history, and the how the riders ride in it, everywhere you go you have some sort of different experience.”

Joao Moreira riding Soulcombe into second in last year’s Melbourne Cup behind Without A Fight. Picture: AFP

The popular jockey, dubbed the ‘Magic Man’ after a brilliant career in Hong Kong, has seven rides at Caulfield on Saturday.

Moreira will ride Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup-nominated pair Buckaroo in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and Francesco Guardi in the MRC Foundation Cup on Saturday.

The 40-year-old has ridden three winners from 19 start at Caulfield, including the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes last year and the 2017 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

“I haven’t gone (to Caulfield a lot) … a place I’ve got to go and prove myself,” Moreira said.

“I’m getting a chance on Saturday … Chris to send me over for some rides, it’s worth going.”

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Moreira snared the Coolmore Stud Stakes (2014) and Newmarket Handicap (2015) Group 1 Flemington sprint double on Waller-trained superstar Brazen Beau.

His best in Australia more recently has been saved for Sydney, with Group 1 success in the Golden Rose, Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes last year.

Moreira, based in Sydney for the next eight weeks, has sights on more Melbourne missions.

“If a ride comes up, even weekday races, I’ll go because I’m here to work, holidays are for different times of the year, not now.”

Originally published as Joao Moreira striving for elusive Melbourne Cup success