Global Weekly Review - 16.03.15

There is an amazing link to the two most significant races in world racing in the weekend just past: jockey Joao Moreira, universally dubbed 'the Magic Man.'

In the space of 24 hours, in different hemispheres, Moreira landed the G1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, Melbourne, on Saturday aboard Brazen Beau, before catching the midnight flight to his current base Hong Kong, where he partnered Able Friend to victory in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin.

Brazen Beau, a son of I Am Invincible, had been previously purchased by Darley and should prove just as valuable when he takes up stallion duties as he has been on the racecourse. A trip to Royal Ascot in June could now be on the cards for the Chris Waller-trained sprinter.

Moreira rode a brilliant race on Brazen Beau. He sat just behind the pace, which was not over-strong in the first half of the race, but switched to the inside of the leader at the 400-metre mark and kicked for home. With an electric burst of speed, Brazen Beau left the opposition in his wake and won comfortably.

The John Moore-trained Able Friend continued his domination of Hong Kong racing in front of a 64,000 crowd at Sha Tin on Sunday. Making light of a drop back in distance to 1,400 metres, the Shamardal gelding looked in serious trouble at the top of the home straight where he was locked away on the inside.

"We didn't want to be on the inside taking a risk, but the way the race unfolded, I ended up being there, and I had to ride him for luck," Moreira later explained. "He's just an outstanding horse. He can be considered one of the best in the world at 1,400 and 1,600 metres," the jockey added.

The Chairman's Trophy and the Champions Mile are the immediate domestic targets for the Hong Kong star, but Moore and owner Dr Cornel Li Fook-kwan are looking at the possibility of a trip to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne Stakes, over one mile, in June.

On the same Hong Kong card, Luger, an Australian-bred son of Choisir, won the coveted BMW Hong Kong Derby for trainer John Size and jockey Zac Purton.

In other weekend highlights, Godolphin's Hartnell won the Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday with something in hand, while Godolphin jockey William Buick won aboard Tarquin on the same Sydney card.

David Hayes and his nephew Tom Dabernig combined for a 1-2 in the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington, with ex-English galloper Spillway beating stablemate Extra Zero by a nose. Red Cadeaux ran with promise for a close-up fifth, but Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist finished a lack-lustre eighth in the same race.

Over at Lingfield Park, on Polytrack in the UK, the well-bred Tryster was a particularly impressive winner of the Winter Derby for Godolphin and is a horse with a big future. His great grand-dam is Give Thanks, the 1983 Irish Oaks winner trained by Jim Bolger.