Champion jockey Joao Moreira continued his march towards the magical 200 winner mark when successful aboard Cavallo in the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1100m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
And he quickly followed up in the following race by guiding Sir Fleetwood to victory in the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 1400m.
Following a winning double last Friday night and Sunday’s early double Moreira is now just 10 winners shy of the magical mark.
Sent out the $8 favourite, Cavallo scored a comfortable two-and-three-quarter length victory over Good Buddy (Stephen Baster) with Robert E (John Powell) a half-length back in third place.
Moreira hardly had to raise a sweat as he guided Cavallo to victory, although the jockey said he should have been a bit closer to the leaders turning for home.
“It has been a pretty good win,” said Moreira. “He had to cover ground three wide for the whole of the race.
“I did think I would be closer to the leaders turning for home, but when we straightened up he did give me a very good kick.
“I didn’t have to pick up my whip to him at any stage and was just hands and heels all the way to the line.
“He still had a bit in hand at the finish and can go on and win again.”
While racing in fourth position behind the speed set by Spot On (Soo Khoon Beng), Andiko (Saifudin Ismail) and Robert E, Cavallo was standing those leaders around four lengths as the field turned for home.
But on balancing for the run home Moreira just urged his charge home under hands and heels riding with the win indicating he will appreciate a longer journey.
Cavallo was picked up for NZ$130,000 last year as a two-year-old at the Ready To Run Sale and trainer Michael Freedman is looking forward to heading back there later in the month for the 2012 edition.
“It’s been a good sale to me,” said Freedman. “I’ve had a bit of success there in the past and I’m looking forward to getting back down there.”
Freedman said Cavallo had appreciated being ridden with cover on Sunday allowing him to finish his race off strongly.
“I discussed with Joao the option of riding him with some cover,” said Freedman.
“We had been riding him up on the pace but he was getting taken on and softened up, leaving nothing for the finish.
“I liked the way he finished the race off today and I think he will get over a bit further as well judging on that.”
A three-year-old New Zealand-bred by Testa Rossa from the Elusive Quality mare Indovina, Cavallo has now won two of his six starts and with a further three minor placings edged closer to the $100,000 mark in prizemoney for the Mummify Stable.
Moreira later added two more winners to his tally winning aboard Bungae in $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 1600m and Mr Bean in the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 1400m.
