Jockey Joao Moreira returns to Australia to link up with trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury, Caulfield this week

Superstar Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira will ride for Chris Waller at Canterbury on Wednesday before linking up with the Hall Of Fame trainer in Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

Trainer Chris Waller with Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira at Rosehill on Golden Rose Day last year. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Brazilian superstar Joao Moreira makes a low-key return to Sydney racing on Wednesday, with three rides for the Chris Waller stable at Canterbury.

Moreira will then stay on and ride for Waller on Saturday at Caulfield, where the champion trainer has Buckaroo and Kovalica entered for the Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

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Waller has also nominated outstanding mare Fangirl for the Underwood but confirmed the mare was likely to stay in Sydney for Saturday’s $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, with James McDonald booked for the ride.

“Joao has agreed to come back for a few days and will ride for us at Canterbury on Wednesday and Caulfield on Saturday,’’ Waller said.

“Then we hope Joao will ride on and off through the spring carnival. He is not riding at the Golden Rose meeting (Rosehill, September 28) but is likely to be here every second week.’’

MILITARIZE AND THE 'MAGIC MAN' OVER THE TOP!

He wins the Golden Rose, and adds a third Group 1 to his CV.@cavaleiro83@Chinahorseclub@[e-mail]/ELfZBAlJe6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 23, 2023

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Moreira, who has been riding mainly out of Brazil and Japan this year, hasn’t ridden in Australia since last spring when he won the Golden Rose on the Waller-trained Militarize.

He will get his eye back in for Australian racing at the Canterbury midweeks on Collerette in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m), Maquisa in the Exceedance’s First Yearlings Handicap (1250m) and Kadavar, who contests the TAB Handicap (1580m).

Meanwhile, Waller revealed brilliant mare Joliestar remained on track for the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 19 despite her defeat at Rosehill last Saturday when third to Sunshine In Paris in the ‘Sheraco Stakes.

“It was a messy set-up for Joliestar but she’s pulled up fine,’’ Waller said.

“I haven’t spoken to her owners yet but I still have The Everest firmly in our sights.

“At this stage, I’m keen to run her in the (Group 2 $400,000) Golden Pendant (1400m, Rosehill, September 28) and then three weeks into The Everest.’’

☀️ 🇫🇷 Sunshine In Paris books her @tabcomau Everest spot in winning back-to-back Sheraco Stakes today at Rosehill with @TommyBerry21 on board for @ANeashamRacing! pic.twitter.com/Vs055MS1sP

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 14, 2024

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Joliestar eased to $11 (from $5) for The Everest after her Sheraco loss. I Wish I Win is again outright favourite at $5 ahead of Bella Nipotina at $7.

Waller confirmed Fangirl and Zougotcha would clash again in the 7 Stakes after they ran the placings behind stablemate Via Sistina in last month’s Winx Stakes.

Fangirl is being aimed specifically at the $5 million King Charles 111 Stakes (1600m) – a race she won so brilliantly last year – at Royal Randwick on Everest Day.

Zougotcha is also likely to go to the King Charles after she was allocated topweight of 58kg for the Group 1 $1.5 million TAB Epsom (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 5.

“I doubt we will run Zougotcha with that weight,’’ Waller said. “But we will get through Saturday first and work out where we go with her.’’

Originally published as Jockey Joao Moreira returns to Australia to link up with trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury, Caulfield this week