Joao Moreira outpointed Zac Purton three wins to zero at Sha Tin on Saturday with a skillful treble to move to within one of his championship rival, having been winless against the Australian’s five-timer at Happy Valley midweek.
The scores at the end of Saturday stood at 113-114, with 18 race meetings left in the current Hong Kong season.
The Brazilian wrapped up the trio atop the John Size-trained Hong Kong Win in the Class 2 Amethyst Handicap.
“He had a smooth run today, so circumstances just played his way. He’s a good horse and he’s still in the making,” he said.
Joao Moreira scores on Perfect To Play (Pic – HKJC)
Moreira rode a sweet stalking race on Perfect To Play, settling behind the lead and waiting for the gap to open midway down the straight. He asked his mount to quicken when daylight was sighted, and, reacting to strong insistence, the Caspar Fownes-trained galloper battled on to take the Class 4 Sapphire Handicap by a neck.
One race later, the ‘Magic Man’ overcame gate 12 to score aboard the Francis Lui-trained This One’s For You (129lb) in the Class 4 Ruby Handicap (1650m, dirt). Moreira had to bide his time as he plotted a path through traffic, eventually pulling wide in the straight for a clear run to nick it by a head from Party Everyday (120lb).
The win took Moreira’s total wins this term for the yard to six from only 17 rides – an impressive strike rate of 35%.
“Sometimes you find luck and I had a bit of it with those two earlier rides. Hopefully we can keep on kicking in winners!” he said.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 13 May.
- Hong Kong Jockey Club
