It took champion jockey Joao Moreira until the final event on Sunday’s 11 race program to finally claim his 200th winner of the season in Singapore.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Starting the day on 199, Moreira was considered “odds-on” to claim the magical mark well before the end of the program.
With 10 rides for the day it was expected Moreira would reach the mark aboard the odds-on favourite
California Eagle in the second race of the day – the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1100m.After riding the speed throughout, California Eagle finished second to Jackpot, beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths.
Moreira’s day started with a second aboard Sir Fleetwood. He almost claimed his 200th winner aboard Chinese Tycoon in Race 6, the Class 5 Stakes over 1200m, but was touched out by fellow Brazilian Ivaldo Santana on Paragon Angel.
Further placings followed with Danny in Race 8 and again with Tom in Race 10 before punters backed Golden Dominator into favouritism in the final event.
Taking advantage of the inside draw, Moreira had Golden Dominator well positioned in the run, settling in fourth position.
As the field fanned and headed towards the outside fence, Moreira pushed Golden Dominator up on the inside of the bunch to hit the lead at the 200m mark.
Pushing hard, Moreira and Golden Dominator surged away from their opponents to score by three-and-three-quarter lengths from Black Jack (Jacky Low) with Xavio (Alan Munro) a head away third.
Moreira said he was lost for words to describe the elation of finally reaching the 200 win mark after setting a record of 153 winners in 2011.
“There are no words to describe how I am feeling,” said Moreira.
“I have to thank all those people that have supported me throughout the year and over my whole time here in Singapore.
“It makes me so happy today to have finally reached the mark.
“It was getting a bit frustrating knowing that I was close to getting there but at the end of the day I’ve got the winner that I needed.”
Moreira said it was only over the past four to six weeks that he felt the 200 winner mark was attainable.
“Halfway through the year I didn’t think that I would get there but over the past few weeks I thought it was a chance and I decided to push for it,” he said.
With the 200 win mark finally achieved, Moreira said he would not be resting on his laurels.
“I will be trying to push it a bit further,” he said. “There are some nice horses that will be racing next weekend that I will be riding.
“I just want to keep riding winners.”
