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World's Best Confirmed for History-Making Adelaide Race

The man widely recognised as one of the best jockeys in the world – Brazilian-born João Moreira – is coming to Adelaide after being confirmed today for the Schweppes Oaks Day on Saturday 6 May at Morphettville.

Moreira will ride in South Australia’s first ever million-dollar race – the $1 million Group 1 UBET Classic (Robert Sangster Stakes) – on the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Sheidel, the horse upon which he won this year’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

Nicknamed the ‘Magic Man,’ Moreira is regarded as one of the world’s best jockeys and has an astonishing record in the saddle. This season alone in Hong Kong, he has notched up 135 winners from 526 rides at a 26% strike rate.

“To have a jockey of Moreira’s calibre riding here is a great coup for Adelaide and for Morphettville,” said SAJC Chair Bodelle Francis.

“Not only that, but to have him riding in our first million-dollar race is exactly the kind of high-profile name we believe our Festival of Racing now has the ability to attract.”

For the first time in its history, South Australia will have two races worth $1 million – the UBET Classic and the Darley Goodwood to be run on 20 May – following a $6 million two-year funding commitment provided by the State Government.

“To have the ‘Magic Man’ here will bring a new level of excitement and interest from around Australia and internationally, which is exactly what we wanted to achieve with the Government’s support,” said TRSA CEO Jim Watters.

“We had always highlighted that taking the carnival to this level would boost tourism and visitation to Adelaide.

“Since announcing the prizemoney increase earlier this year, we have been working hard to ensure that owners and trainers throughout Australia and NZ are aware of the massive prize money increases and opportunities here this autumn.”

After moving from his homeland Brazil to Singapore in 2009, Moreira built an outstanding career in Singapore where he was named their Champion Jockey four years straight from 2010-2013. Some of his outstanding achievements in Singapore included breaking the Singapore record for most wins in a season, with 206 winners in 2012. He also rode eight winners from eight rides at Kranji in 2013.    

In 2013 he moved to Hong Kong and has since cemented himself as one of the world’s finest jockeys. He has been crowned the Hong Kong Champion Jockey two years running and, in doing so, has also set the record for most wins in a season with 168 in 2015-16. A number he may be able to improve on this season.

In March, Moreira set a new Hong Kong record when he rode eight winners in one meeting at Sha Tin.

 

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