Joao Moreira is leading the field at the half-way point of the JRA’s two-day World All-Star Jockeys series at Sapporo Racecourse, Japan, thanks to a win and a second-place finish.
Hong Kong’s record-breaking Champion Jockey accrued an impressive 35 points in today’s (Saturday, 29 August) two legs. The remaining two legs of the four-race challenge will take place tomorrow (Sunday, 30 August).
Moreira opened his assault in leg one with a positive ride on the runner-up Jun Fight Kun. But after scooting clear early in the home straight, the three-year-old colt was unable to withstand the late dash of the Koji Fujita-ridden J’ouvre Aile, who swept by to take the 2600m contest.
The Brazilian added to that 15-point start with a maximum 20-point return in leg two, as he guided Jungle Cruise to a length and a quarter success in the 2000m heat.
Japanese legend Yutaka Take sits in second place with 25 points, 10 adrift of Moreira, after taking third place in leg one and filling the second position in leg two. Fujita is in third place overall with 23 points.
Moreira was in dazzling form with two earlier wins from eight rides on the undercard. He notched his first career win in Japan atop Sumire in a two-year-old fillies’ maiden and added a second when Baby Tapit landed a three-year-old maiden.
This year’s competition includes, for the first time, a team component. Hong Kong’s champ has ensured that his Team World All-Star, consisting of five overseas riders and two from Japan’s National Association of Racing (NAR), is edging the contest. Team World All-Star has 94 points to Team JRA’s 92 points.
Moreira will partner Bravissiomo and Quetzalcoatl in tomorrow’s concluding two legs of the World All-Star Jockeys series, a 1200m sprint and an 1800m contest.
|
Photo 1:
Photo 1, 2
Joao Moreira partners Jungle Cruise (No. 8) to victory in the second leg of the World All-Star Jockeys at Sapporo Racecourse today.
|
Photo 2
|
|
Photo 3:
Moreira is interviewed after notching his first win in Japan, atop two-year-old filly Sumire in the first race at Sapporo today.
|
Photo 4:
Moreira gives his autographs to Japanese racing fans.
|
