Straddie Magic show with world acclaimed jockey Joao Moreira booked for Eagle Farm appearance
THE Queensland carnival is set to get its first glimpse of “Magic Man” Joao Moreira.
THE Queensland carnival is set to get its first glimpse of “Magic Man” Joao Moreira.
The Hong Kong-based international superstar is believed to be the clear frontrunner for the Stradbroke Handicap ride on Chris Waller’s colt Counterattack.
Counterattack, who won the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben in devastating fashion 10 days ago, is on the second line of Stradbroke betting at $6.
Moreira has such a public following those odds are likely to shorten once his booking for Saturday week’s 1400m Stradbroke at Eagle Farm is confirmed.
Regarded by many as the world’s best jockey, Moreira has ridden winners in almost 20 countries.
The ‘Magic Man’ has never ridden in Queensland before but won a pair of Flemington Group 1s for Waller with Brazen Beau in the 2014 Coolmore and 2015 Newmarket. Moreira also won the 2014 Epsom for Waller with He’s Your Man.
Moreira, the boy from Brazil who grew up stealing horses and riding them bareback in the dead of night, has enjoyed yet another record-breaking season in Hong Kong.
He had a winning treble at Sha Tin on Sunday, hitting uncharted territory and bettering his own mark when he rode his 146th winner for the season.
Moreira received a two-day suspension on Sunday but his riding ban will start the day after the Stradbroke.
HUGH BEAUTY, LOOK WHO’S BACK
LEADING Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman will partner last-start Group 1 winner Malaguerra for co-trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Bowman replaces Queensland jockey Glen Colless, who rode Malaguerra to victory in the recent Group 1 BTC Cup.
Originally published as Straddie Magic show with world acclaimed jockey Joao Moreira booked for Eagle Farm appearance
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