INFOGRAPHIC: CLICK HERE TO RELIVE 'MAGIC MAN' JOAO MOREIRA'S RECORD 145 WINNERS IN 2014-15
Condensing the great rides of a season down to just five is an impossible task, as most of the winning rides carried a degree of dash or cleverness that made the difference, but some just say something in particular about the rider and they’re the ones we’ve tried to find.
Joao Moreira, Sun Jewellery, Class Three, 1,200m
Among 145 winners, dozens might have made this list, but none showcased Moreira better than this. The game plan went out the window after the start, when too many rivals punched up under him to use Sun Jewellery’s speed from gate 11, so Moreira took a different option to go back to a midfield trail after 300 metres. He then burrowed between horses making ground and surprised Olivier Doleuze who, from gate two, had hugged the rail all race in the box seat, by materialising under him at the 450m. Sun Jewellery was then held up by spent leaders but the genius of Moreira, which we saw at other times on Arpinati and Able Friend, was his ability to keep off looming heels but keep the engine primed. When the gap came, the gelding went straight to top gear and left runner-up Brett Prebble shaking his head in disbelief. Watch it here.
Brett Prebble, Thunder Fantasy, HKJC Community Trophy, 2,200m
Another easy choice for this list. Staying events are a lesser part of the Hong Kong scene but also the races which offer more opportunities for tactical brilliance than sprints. A ho-hum tempo and a 400-metre sprint home was going to disadvantage his horse and Prebble took the chance to steal this with a positive move more than 800m from the finish. He looped the leaders and went clear to make it more of a test but showing his hand so far out also meant he also had to get the speed and extent of the move just right or risk Thunder Fantasy being a vulnerable, empty vessel by the 200m. Watch it here.
Zac Purton, Sky Man, Class Three, 1,000m
Increasingly, the straight course at Sha Tin had become so blighted by outside rail bias that an accident loomed as all runners rushed from the start to get out there first. Purton’s win on Sky Man in September from gate two showed another approach – instead of burning his horse up to cross, Purton stayed towards the centre in the early and middle stages. He then angled out from the 300m mark as the race became serious, others dropped away and it became less crowded trying to reach the better going, where he finished the race. He makes the rides of the season for showing the way, and the pattern was successfully taken up by others afterwards. Watch it here.
Derek Leung Ka-chun, Glamorous Ryder, Class Five, 2,200m
Leung blossomed this season and underlined the main change, a new confidence in his own abilities, with Glamorous Ryder – 17 starts for no placings and rated 18 at the time, so he needed something special. Unable to be on-speed early, he had to accept a midfield spot and then was shuffled back to third last at the 1,000m as others looped forward. But Leung’s timing was perfect when the leaders put in a 26.4-second 400m section down the back at Happy Valley, Leung sent his horse around to the lead in the very slowest part of the race, leaving Glamorous Ryder enough petrol to finish the race. Watch it here.
Joao Moreira, Bear-Pop, Class Four, 1,400m
The final spot goes to Moreira but with a very honourable mention for Purton’s similar winning ride on Hit The Bid on the dirt in March. Purton’s was a great example of thinking on the run and turning a horse’s usual tactics upside down after drawing the outside on a forward runner, finding himself outsped early and ultimately came through the field from second last with a horse who had had trouble winning. A great ride but why did Moreira get the nod instead? Well, he did pretty much the same thing on Bear-Pop – also a limited horse with his share of complications – but twice in successive appearances. Watch it here.
