SINGAPORE: Moreira Is The Cinderella Man

Saturday, 4 August 2012: Champion jockey Joao Moreira added another double to his growing tally of winners in 2012 when The Cinderella Man took out the $75,000 Open Benchmark 67 Stakes over 1700m on the Polytrack on Friday night.

Whenever Moreira rides a winner at Kranji he invariably backs it up with at least one other success during the night.

With 127 winners on the board so far this season, Moreira has notched two winners or more on 37 occasions during the 2012 season.

After winning the opening race on Pasha Khan, Moreira was seen at his vigorous best in getting The Cinderella Man home by a half-length over Positive Thinking (Greg Cheyne) with Golden Quest (Ivaldo Santana) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

Moreira had The Cinderella Man running in fifth position in the six horse field behind the pace set by Terra Firma (Stephen Baster) and Positive Thinking.

Coming off the back The Cinderella Man was held-up in a pocket by Excuse My Friends (Jacky Low) until that gelding wobbled around the turn.

Moreira took advantage to edge to the outside and give The Cinderella Man clear galloping room to the line.

Trainer Laurie Laxon said it was the perseverance of Moreira that won the day.

“It was Joao's perseverance that got him home,” said Laxon. “He kept at him all the way up the straight and he got there in the end.

“He's a handy little horse this bloke and he's certainly at home on the Polytrack.

“Hopefully there's another win in store for him coming up.”

Moreira said despite drawing the outside barrier he had a good run throughout the race.

“The barrier was not too bad for him,” said Moreira. “We were able to get a good run on the fence and got into clear running in the straight.

“I had to put the whip away as he wasn't responding to it, so I just rode him hands and heels and he really responded to that.

“Laurie and (stable supervisor) Shane (Ellis) and all the staff have done a great job with this horse and he was certainly better tonight than when I won on him last time.”

A New Zealand-bred five-year-old by Pentire from the Kingdom Bay mare Summer Lot, The Cinderella Man has won four of his 20 starts in Singapore and took his prizemoney past the $200,000 mark for Jupiter Stable.

Moreira made it a treble for the night when True North took out the final event on the programme - the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1200m - for Shane Baertschiger.