The popularity of premiership leader Joao Moriera has now extended well beyond Hong Kong with the 'Magic Man' booked for rides in eight of the nine races at Flemington on Saturday - day one of the four day VRC Melbourne Cup carnival.
Moreira has mounts in five of the six simulcast races with his key Group 1 rides being Atmosphere, rated among the main chances in the Victoria Derby despite being a maiden; and He's Your Man, on whom he won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, who contests the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.
However it's his engagement to ride Signoff in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes which has generated the most hype as victory in the 2500 metres race would secure horse and rider a start in Tuesday's iconic A$6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.
“If Signoff can win the Lexus, I’ll be back in Melbourne on Tuesday to ride him and it will be a dream of a lifetime to just be in the race. I’ve read so much about the Melbourne Cup over the years and it’s one race I want to win,” Moreira said.
Moreira plans to head back to Hong Kong on Saturday night, ride at Sha Tin on Sunday and then return to Melbourne if all goes to plan.
Signoff's trainer Darren Weir, last season's training premiership winner in Victoria, is delighted to have Moreira aboard. “It’s a real bonus having Joao (Moreira) on and the horse will also be having his first start in blinkers which will assist,” Weir said.
The Lexus will be keenly contested with 12 of the 13 runners still in contention for the Melbourne Cup but each of them needing to win to be guaranteed a place in Tuesday's 24-horse field.
The barrier draws have been kind to Moreira with only one of his mounts drawing wider than gate seven. That's Brazen Beau who begins from stall 15 in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, which is run down the straight course where the wider draws are often a plus.
He's Your Man is drawn ideally in gate five for an interest packed Mackinnon Stakes in which he chases a third straight win. “We've targeted this race since his Epsom win and he's in good order,” said trainer Chris Waller.
The Mackinnon field includes Happy Trails, Foreteller and Criterion - who all back up from good performances behind Adelaide in last Saturday's Group 1 Cox Plate - with the fresh blood of Roger Varian's Farraaj who runs in Australia for the first time as does Amralah who's now with local trainer Robert Hickmott.
The five-year-old import, formerly trained by Mick Channon, left the UK after successive wins in July and August - over 2005m at Newbury and 2086m at Haydock. Last start, Amralah beat Hillstar who then won the G1 Canadian International at Woodbine, in Canada, on 19 October.
Add the Group 1 Caulfield Cup runner-up Rising Romance to the mix and the Mackinnon Stakes threatens to overshadow the richest race on the card - the Victoria Derby in which the Gai Waterhouse trained Hampton Court will start a clear cut favourite.
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