THE PETLEY REPORT: SIX FOR MOREIRA AT SHA TIN. THAT'S ALREADY FOURTEEN WINS FOR THE NEW SEASON

By Jack Petley | Monday, September 21, 2020

Brazilian Joao Moreira is one heck of a jockey. Yesterday at Sha Tin he scored six winning rides and that after a treble at Happy Valley during the week. In a short time, he has put together 14 wins for the new season, six ahead of Zac Purton, and he has now snared 959 winners in Hong Kong and sits fourth on the all-time list. He also has eight wins this credit in one day, at Sha Tin back in March of 2017.

One of his winners yesterday was the Exceed and Excel four-year-old Excellent Prospect. "Only good horses do what he did today to win," said the ace. He is the type of horse who could be aimed at the Hong Kong Derby. Meantime Irishman Neil Callan gained his first win for the new season on the Jimmy Choux gelding Excellent Chariot.

And what about the great success by Matamata based Te Akau on the weekend. Jamie Richards saddled up three winners at the Hastings meeting, Vamos Babe, Aotearoa Miss and Savy Young Blonk. At Randwick Richards won with Probabeel and Te Aklau's man in Singapore, Mark Walker, who was formerly at Matamata before shifting to Kranji, gained three winners, Brutus, I am Sacred and Hidden Promise. Richards also had Avantage in the Tarzino and she finished third, but the successful Matamata trainer told the NZ Racing Desk afterwards: "Everything considered it was a very good run and a mile in two weeks’ time at Hastings should suit her nicely."

Probabeel has tightened even further for the Gr1 Epsom Handicap. The mare was a $380,000 purchase by David Ellis out of Karaka and she is raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay who are really making their mark at Cambridge Stud. Probabeel has now won seven from 17 and just over $1.7million. Richards paid tribute to his staff members Ashley Handley and Craig Thornton who are managing his team in Sydney. "They have made sacrifices being away from family, particularly Ashley who has been away for a long time," said Richards.

I see that a report will be made by a vet this morning on the fitness of Catalyst, who was all but pulled up by Glen Boss in the Shorts on the weekend. Afterwards he was found to be slightly sore in an off foreleg. With this recent news Catalyst has drifted out in the betting for the Everest and has also drifted out in the Golden Eagle betting.

The smart colt Anders will be missing from the Moir Stakes this Friday. He has had a slight temperature but the stable is hopeful that he will be back on track in no time at all and are still hopeful of an Everest spot. He sits at $15 in that betting.

That was a big run from Eduardo and Joe Pride said the sprinter pulled up well and he is hopeful a slot holder will pick up the galloper for the Everest.

Latest betting for The Everest after the weekend with Classique Legend shortening … $3.50 Nature Strip, $6 Classique Legend, Gytrash, $7 Rothfire, $11 Bivouac, $15 Anders, Farnan, 21 Tofane, Haut Brion Her.

And while mentioning Farnan the appeal by Hugh Bowman over his ban for that ride on Farnan in the Run To The Rose will be heard this week … and also to appear before the stewards Adam Hyeronimus over his ban, three years, for betting.

The star Canadian galloper Starship Jubilee, the Canadian Horse of the Year, was successful in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on the weekend and the win gained the mare a fee paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on November 7.

And in the major in Japan, the Grade 2 Sho Rose Stakes, Ria Amelia was a decisive two length winner.

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