Jockey Joao Moreira’s finish line sportsmanship
AFTER coming a close second in the biggest race of the year, you’d be excused for blowing up at least a little bit.
That wasn’t the case for Joao Moreira.
The Brazilian jockey riding the second-placed Heartbreak City was praised for his “beautiful” gesture to race winner Kerrin McEvoy just seconds after crossing the finish line.
After a brutal head-to-head charge in the final 400m — which ended with just inches of difference between the two jockeys — Moreira patted his victor’s back enthusiastically in congratulations.
Their gladiatorial finish was described by Channel Seven’s Peter Donegan as “one of the greatest home straight battles in Melbourne Cup history”.
Moreira’s sportsmanship was met with an outpour of praise on Twitter.
Almandin beat Heartbreak City by a nose in a thrilling finish to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, giving Australian owner Lloyd Williams a record fifth win in the ‘race that stops a nation’.
The former German galloper caught and edged Ireland’s Heartbreak City at Flemington to give jockey Kerrin McEvoy his second Melbourne Cup, 16 years after his first Race favourite Hartnell, one of five Godolphin runners, was third across the line, 4-1/4 lengths back in the Aus$6.2 million (US$4.7 million) race over 3,200 metres (two miles).
It was a second Cup triumph for local trainer Robert Hickmott, who rehabilitated Almandin over 18 months off the track following a tendon injury after acquiring it in Germany.
McEvoy, who won his first Melbourne Cup with Brew in 2000, got Almandin home from the Tony Martin-trained Irish stayer Heartbreak City and ridden by Hong Kong-based Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira.
“Gee, he travelled well. How lucky am I, mate?” McEvoy said immediately after the win.
“The elation is unreal. Just a dream race. Great to be part of it again. Second cup.”
The win made Williams the most successful owner in Melbourne Cup history following his previous successes with Just a Dash (1981), What a Nuisance (1985), Efficient (2007) and Green Moon (2012).
“It’s high on the agenda, this one,” Williams said, when asked how this triumph rated with his other successes.
“This horse had a (damaged) tendon, he was broken down. No, it’s quite emotional about this one. The boys have done a fabulous job with getting this horse back.” The global Godolphin stable again failed to win the race despite having five runners and has now gone almost 20 years without tasting victory at Flemington.
Another Godolphin runner Qewy was fourth with Who Shot Thebarman fifth.
Moreira had a win earlier in the day on the Gai Waterhouse-trained invincible star.
“She was too quick for everyone in the race,” he said after Race 1.
“She is a talented filly.
“She does everything right.
“Gai Waterhouse is one of the best training talent in town.
“I just did most of the team’s job and I am very proud of it.
“There is no secret.
“You just need to have a good horse.”
— with AFP
FINAL FINISHING ORDER
First
ALMANDIN Trainer: Robert Hickmott Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Second
HEARTBREAK CITY T: Tony Martin J: Joao Moreira
Third
HARTNELL T: John O’Shea J: James McDonald
Fourth
QEWY T: Charlie Appleby J: Craig Williams
5. WHO SHOT THE BARMAN T: Chris Waller J: Hugh Bowman
6. ALMOONQITH T: D & B Hayes, T Dabernig J: Michael Walker
7. BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE T: Saeed Bin Suroor J: Damian Lane
8. EXOSPHERIC T: Lee & Anthony Freedman J: Damien Oliver
9. PENTATHLON T: John Wheeler J: Mark Du Plessis
10. BIG ORANGE T: Michael Bell J: Jamie Spencer
11. GRAND MARSHAL T: Chris Waller J: Ben Melham
12. OCEANOGRAPHER T: Charlie Appleby J: Chad Schofield
13. BONDI BEACH T: Aidan O’Brien J: Ryan Moore
14. GREY LION T: Matt Cumani J: Glen Boss
15. JAMEKA T: Ciaron Maher J: Nicholas Hall
16. OUR IVANHOWE T: Lee & Anthony Freedman J: Dwayne Dunn
17. EXCESS KNOWLEDGE T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Vlad Duric
18. ASSIGN T: Robert Hickmott J: Katelyn Mallyon
19. SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD T: John Thompson J: Blake Spriggs
20. GALLANTS T: Robert Hickmott J: Blake Shinn
21. SECRET NUMBER T: Saeed Bin Suroor J: Stephen Baster
22. WICKLOW BRAVE T: Willie Mullins J: Frankie Dettori
23. CURREN MIROTIC T: Osamu Hirata J: Tommy Berry
Last
ROSE OF VIRGINIA T: Lee & Shannon Hope J: Ben Thompson
*This list has not yet been confirmed by the Victoria Racing Club