Champion jockey Joao Moreira took a few races to hit his strides again before knocking in a running double on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
After missing last Sunday’s meeting when in Baden Baden Germany riding Verde Mar in a Group 2 sprint event, Moreira was eagerly looking forward to getting back into the winner’s circle on Friday night.
After guiding the favourite Huka Falls to victory, Moreira was back in action in the following race aboard Empire Bay in the $65,000 Novice Stakes.
Leading from the outset, Empire Bay scored by a length-and-three-quarters over Prime Mover (Matthew Kellady) with Baby Face (Oscar Chavez) a short-head back in third place.
Empire Bay jumped smartly and led on settling down from Black Unicorn (Saifudin Ismail) and Greenstone (Barend Vorster) out three wide.
Moreira had a good hold of Empire Bay until the home straight where he slipped him some more rein and he quickly opened a winning margin which he was able to hold all the way to the finish.
“He’s a lovely horse,” said Moreira. “He makes it so easy for the jockey.
“I had the other horse (Black Unicorn) to my outside and chasing me all the way. That helped my horse as he concentrated all the way.
“Once he got to the top of the straight he changed his leg and quickened up nicely and from there was never going to be beaten.”
For winning trainer Michael Freedman, the victory saw him draw level on top of the Trainer’s Premiership Table with Steven Burridge on 51 winners.
He said Empire Bay, who was coming off a last start eighth behind Rising Empire in the Magic Millions Juvenile Championship at the end of July, was an exciting prospect in the making.
“He won his maiden quite well and we threw him in the Magic Millions,” said Freedman.
“His run was better than it looked on paper in the Magic Millions as he was wide throughout and stuck on quite well.
“We were lucky enough to get Joao for him tonight and he rode him perfectly.”
Freedman said he has picked out the $200,000 Jubilee Stakes over 1400m on September 30 for Empire Bay, a race he also has stablemate Super Junior being aimed at.
“There’s a nice 1400m race for three-year-olds at the end of September that might suit him,” said Freedman.
“I think with time that’s he’s going to be even better off over a bit more ground, but so far he’s done a pretty good job.”
A three-year-old New Zealand-bred by Iffraaj from the Honour And Glory mare Lekker Ding, Empire Bay has now had four starts for two wins and accumulated around $70,000 in prizemoney for owners Horizon Stable.
