An opportunist piece of riding from Joao Moreira gave Same World (119lbs) a deserved victory in the HKG3 January Cup (1800m) at Hong Kong’s city track tonight, Wednesday, 8 January.
Moreira caught his rivals on the back foot in Happy Valley’s only Group race of the season. With the pace slackening in the back-stretch, the Brazilian ace sent Same World around the field from close to the tail and scooted clear with 600m to race.
John Moore’s charge had upwards of two lengths in hand on his chasing rivals turning for home. But the pursuit was in vain as the six-year-old, runner-up in the HKG1 Hong Kong Derby of 2012, quickened away to seal his first Hong Kong Group race success by three quarters of a length in a time of 1m 48.70s.
“I was told to ride him a little bit closer but I had no chance to go in, otherwise I was going to be six or seven wide into the first turn, so I opted to come back and get some cover,”said Moreira, who broke widest of all from gate 10.
“The race slowed a bit in the back straight so I just decided to get going and make the run into the last turn on the inside. Once I put him in front I could feel he was going to sprint home because he was going nicely and he was carrying a nice weight, so things were in his favour.
“John has done a great job to turn this horse around. His last few runs, he hasn’t finished off very well but today he showed he has his form back once again.”
Rainbow Chic (120lbs) closed off best of all under Zac Purton. The Caspar Fownes-trained five-year-old stormed home centre-track but ran out of ground after racing towards the rear. Lucky Forever (113lbs), after leading for much of the race, kept on for third under Vincent Ho, a further two and a half lengths back.
Same World’s victory in the 10-runner feature helped Moreira to a four-timer on the night. The Brazilian, who had endured his first winless Hong Kong race day at Sha Tin on Sunday, opened his account on the John Size-trained Golden Addiction in the preceding contest. A last gasp win on Rainbow Fighter in race seven brought up the treble, and Moreira wrapped up proceedings with another late swoop for win number four on First Sight Love in the last.
