A week after Brazilian superstar Joao “Magic Man” Moreira pulled a rabbit from a hat to land the G1 Golden Rose on Militarize for champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller, the pair will combine in another feature race this Friday night. Moreira, who set multiple riding records during a dazzling decade in Hong Kong, will partner 8-1 shot Kovalica in the time-honored G1 Epsom Handicap.
First run in 1865 and now worth AU$1.5 million, the Epsom underlines the tremendous wagering value provided by Australian racing: the 20-strong field has a 6-1 favorite. The one-mile Epsom Handicap is the eighth on a 10-race card at Royal Randwick, which includes seven stakes (three Group 1) and will be broadcast live by FanDuel TV and Sky Racing World (First post 9:55 p.m. Eastern / 6:55 p.m. Pacific).
Ongoing hip problems saw Joao Moreira hand in his Hong Kong jockey's license last year, with a view to undertaking a six-month global farewell tour before retirement. In April, Moreira linked with Chris Waller's emerging 2-year-old star, Militarize, winning back-to-back Group 1's at Randwick. Dedication to a strict regimen of stretching and strengthening exercises, in concert with medical assistance, has stabilized his hip to the point that Moreira eagerly accepted Waller's invitation to reunite with Militarize last weekend in the Golden Rose.
From a seemingly impossible position in the first half of the home stretch, Moreira extricated and ignited Militarize for a last-gasp victory which exemplified his Hong Kong nickname of Magic Man. Moreira turned 40 on Tuesday, and the prolonging of his career is a blessing for global racing.
One key stat suggests he's landed on the right horse in Friday night's Epsom Handicap: Kovalica makes his second start following a layoff and is undefeated in such circumstances. Kovalica is part of a seven-pronged Waller attack on the Epsom, which also includes the former Phil D'Amato-trained Going Global (25-1).
Countdown to The Everest
Randwick's card includes the G2 Premiere Stakes, final prep for the world's richest race on turf which is now just two weeks away on Friday night, Oct. 13 (U.S. time).
- Think About It, a winner of nine from 10 career starts, heads wagering at 6-5 for the Premiere (Race 7). Think About It is already guaranteed a start in The Everest, and was promoted to 7-2 favorite in future book wagering following the injury-enforced withdrawal of 2022 winner, Giga Kick.
- The slot-holder who had Giga Kick has snapped up 3-year-old Godolphin-owned colt, Cylinder, on the strength of his close second off a tough trip to Militarize in last week's Golden Rose.
- Several slots remain available for horses who impress in Friday night's Premiere, run at the same six-furlong distance as The Everest. The most intriguing runner is Alcohol Free (9-1), who won at Group 1 level in England at 2, 3 and 4 years of age. In November of last year, she became the second-highest priced horse ever sold at a European auction, bringing approximately US$7.3 million. Alcohol Free has made only one Australian start, in April. The 5-year-old mare resurfaces as a potential wild card for The Everest, and will be ridden in the Premiere by … Joao Moreira.
- Nature Strip, recently retired two-time Australian Horse of the Year and winner of The Everest in 2021, will make a special appearance at Randwick to lead the Premiere Stakes field onto the track.
The Randwick card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night (First Post: 9:55 p.m. ET / 6:55 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Newcastle and Belmont. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, FanDuel and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances, and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.
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