With the prized rides on the Golden Eagle and Melbourne Cup favourites, it’s no surprise Joao ‘The Magic Man’ Moreira has a soft spot for Australian racing.
Joao Moreira has declared his desire to make Australia a more permanent base – if he can convince his family.
The world-renowned Brazilian-born jockey has been jetting between his home country, Australia and Japan in recent months and will be in Sydney on Saturday to partner Japanese-trained favourite Ascoli Piceno in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
After putting the mare through her paces at Canterbury on Wednesday, Moreira revealed he would love to make the move to Australia but had yet to convince his family.
“If I was going to make the call right away, I’d be making Australia my home by now,” Moreira said.
“Don’t forget, I’ve got a family and I’ve got to make sure I can convince them this would be the best place for them to live.
“I have been trying and so far, it is just conversations and discussions, but nothing has been confirmed so far.”
Moreira claimed the Craven Plate on the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann at Randwick last Saturday and in addition to Ascoli Piceno, he has seven rides this weekend, including Linderman’s stablemate Hinged in the Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) and King Of Sparta in the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m).
He has also ridden Waller’s Buckaroo at his past three starts, taking out the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield in September and finishing runner-up on the gelding in both the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The horse the $5 betting sites favourite for the Melbourne Cup and Moreira is looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with Buckaroo on Tuesday when he will chase his first win in Australia’s most famous race, having twice finished second aboard Soulcombe (2023) and Heartbreak City (2016).
“When you decide to make a move to Australia for a short stint, you never know what you are going to end up on. I’ve got some really nice horses coming up,” Moreira said.
“I didn’t ride too many really good horses up until now, but I’m not complaining about that.
“What is coming next, I think it is really exciting. This filly (Ascoli Piceno) is one of them and my Melbourne Cup ride, no doubt, is another one.
“It’s one of so many jockeys’ dream rides.”