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Moreira superb on Dare To Win |
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Craig Brennan |
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Jockey Joao Moreira received the best possible medicine on Friday night – riding the winner of the opening race, the $35,000 Maiden Stakes over 1600m. Moreira, a noted hard worked, was absent from trackwork throughout the week suffering the effects of the flu. “I felt quite unwell during the week,” said Moreira. “I was suffering from the flu and a fever. “I was feeling quite hot at various stages but I feel good now and getting a winner so early in the program always does me well.”
Moreira, who has now ridden 76 winners for the season, guided Dare To Win to
a one-and-three-quarter length victory over Simple Man (Oscar Chavez) with
Equience (Soo Khoon Beng) a head away third.
“Trainer Steven Burridge had him very well trained for
the mile,” said Moreira. “I
think this horse has the capability to go further and should be able to
graduate at least to Class 4 grade.”
Burridge praised the ride of Moreira who had the gelding settled in third
place on the fence behind the speed set by Lucky Thirteen (Jacky Low) and
Sacred Price (Thavi Raja Barnabas).
Moreira was able to angle the gelding away from the fence on the point of
the turn before racing clear for a comfortable win.
“I must admit I was a little concerned soon after he
turned for home,” said Burrdige.
“I thought he was going to turn it up, but Joao put one
around his backside and he quickly found a length.
“He had been racing consistently but had been finding it
hard to win. He found his right race tonight, had a good draw and had one of
the best riders on him.
“Hopefully now that he knows what winning is about he’ll go on with it. He’s fit and
sound and stays pretty well. He should get further and hopefully there are a
few more wins around for him.” Dare
To Win, a four-year-old Australian-bred son of Desert Sun from the Scenic
mare Eliza Park, cost A$50,000 as a yearling. Previously placed just once in his 12 starts, Dare To Win has now won around $25,000 in prizemoney for owner Calvin Koh. |
