Champion international hoop Manoel Nunes makes Adelaide debut ahead of potential move

Adelaide’s riding ranks will feature a champion international jockey on Saturday, with Manoel Nunes set to make his Australian racing debut at Murray Bridge.

Manoel Nunes celebrates a win in Macau. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide’s riding ranks will feature a champion international jockey on Saturday, with Manoel Nunes set to make his Australian racing debut at Murray Bridge.

Nunes, a Group 1-winning jockey, has won multiple jockeys’ premierships in Singapore and Macau, and is currently leading Singapore’s title race this season with 46 winners.

Nunes, 47, is eyeing a permanent move to South Australia, and has also ridden in Hong Kong, Argentina, Mauritius, Dubai, South Korea and his homeland of Brazil, over the course of a career that began in the 1990s.

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Talented South African-born hoop Barend Vorster made a similar move to SA in 2019 after a 15-year stint riding in Singapore. Vorster’s move to Adelaide has been a successful one, despite the fact he’s currently sidelined with injury.

Saturday’s nine-race card at Murray Bridge has Nunes booked for six rides, four of which are for local trainer Michael Hickmott. The Brazilian hoop can ride as light as 51kg and is being managed by Damien Wilton, who believes he has already caught the eye of local trainers.

“We’ve already seen there is significant interest from trainers, he’s got links to Michael (Hickmott) through overseas connections and obviously Barend (Vorster),’’ Wilton said.

“But how that all plays out we’re not sure.”

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• Racing shock: Singapore to end 180 years of horse racing

Racing in Singapore will cease in October after a history of more than 180 years in the jurisdiction, forcing stakeholders to continue their next move to remain in the industry.

The final race meeting in Singapore will be held on October 5.

“He’s (Nunes) got commitments back in Singapore until the end of their season in the first week of October, but all indications we’ve had is that he’ll look at returning to Adelaide on a full-time basis after that.”

Nunes will pilot Halliwell, Maracourt, Togetherforever and Artillery for Hickmott on Saturday’s first metro meeting for the new season, along with Fox Gem for John MacMillan and the Chris Bieg-trained Flyway.

Originally published as Champion international hoop Manoel Nunes makes Adelaide debut ahead of potential move