It took 12 attempts and six minor placings, but Singapore's Magic Man Joao Moreira has finally ridden a winner at Newcastle.

Moreira produced a classy ride aboard Kris Lees' top weight My Man Of War in the NBN Spring Provincial Cup (1200m) to narrowly outlast fellow local Believe It, with Grand Feeling in third spot.

It was classic Moreira, getting the six-year-old to relax in midfield against his usual custom of racing too keenly.

He pulled the horse wide in the straight, levelled up about 200m out and stuck on strongly to the line.

“Finally, after riding a couple of seconds it's good to be getting this one,” Moreira said.

“I've been riding a couple of not much good horses but I thought this horse was good and up to it.

“I had to go to a Plan B, I was going to try to be a little bit more handy but my horse ended up being somewhere midfield. He did relax very well - fortunately he was strong to the line and was able to get up.

“It's great to be riding winners in such a nice country as Australia.”

Moreira started in promising fashion yesterday finishing second aboard the unfancied Lovethebeaches, but it was the best he managed all day. He repeated the feat on Noverach and Celtic Power.

He started well again today and had already collected a second and two thirds before jumping aboard My Man Of War.

“We didn't give him a great card, it's only the second horse I think he's ridden under double-figure odds,” Lees said.

“He's ridden plenty of placings for us on horses that have been ten or 12 to one, he's been worth the flight over.

“He's an absolute professional, even after the last yesterday he went straight to the rooms and watched the replays for horses he'll never see again.

“He [My Man Of War] is probably not the most genuine horse in the stable but he got the best out of him and that's all that mattered.

“He normally travels a bit keen in his races but he was only travelling fair coming to the turn. He picked them up pretty quick and then got the best out of him in the finish.”