It might have started as a mixed day for Joao Moreira, but once the dust had settled the Magic Man had re-established a double digit lead in the jockeys' championship over absent rival Zac Purton.
After missing three meetings owing to suspension, Moreira returned with a treble as wins with Trillion Treasure, Golden Scalpel and Startling Power stretched his lead to 10 with Purton to miss the next five meetings on a careless riding ban.
Moreira has 48 wins from 31 meetings, and a flurry of victories in the absence of defending champion Purton could deliver a winning break as the Brazilian chases his first title after finishing second in his debut season.
"It is good to have a lead, I respect Zac very much and he will be chasing hard," Moreira said.
"I have the highest percentage chances of winning with the rides I attract, and I'll be doing the best to make the most of my opportunities, knowing things can change. I don't see Zac being away as a free kick anyway, he is out for the next few meetings, but there will be times when I might be away as well."
As far as John Size's beaten 1.5 favourite Eroico was concerned, Moreira called for some forgiveness as he failed to catch Longwah Amber after a tough run. "He is still a three-year-old, he didn't really ping out of the gates as well as before and I ended up stuck deep. He will show what he can do in the future."
On Helene Happy Star, who started favourite in the competitive Class Two last that was billed as an early Derby trial by some, Moreira was more blunt. "I probably gave him a bad ride," he said.
Moreira had hit the ground running when he made the most of a good draw on Andreas Schutz's sprinter Trillion Treasure in the opening event, a rare Class Five up the straight.
"It gives you confidence when you can win with your first race back," he said. "That was an easy win, he jumped well from a good draw and I was able to sit in just behind the speed. We were passing the 450m I got clear and he pulled away comfortably."
Trainer Benno Yung Tin-pang had made the seemingly innocuous gear change of taking the hood off Startling Power, but Moreira said it made a world of difference to the sprinter.
"Benno has really got this horse to improve and taking the hood off his ears helped him travel better," the jockey said.
Startling Power seems to have shed his habit of being slow away and was able to stalk Sight Believer in the run and pull past him for a second win in three starts, both victories with Moreira aboard. "He jumped perfectly, put himself close enough to the first horse who seemed to be going too fast," Moreira said.
