Australia: Moreira rides Kovalica in 20-horse Epsom Handicap

A week after Brazilian superstar Joao “Magic Man” Moreira pulled a rabbit from a hat to land the Group 1 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 Group 1 Epsom Handicap.

First run in 1865 and now worth $966,990, the Epsom underlines the tremendous wagering value provided by Australian racing: the 20-strong field has a 6-1 morning-line favorite. The one-mile Epsom Handicap is the eighth on a 10-race card at Royal Randwick, which includes seven stakes, three at the Group 1 level. It will be broadcast live by FanDuel TV and Sky Racing World, with first post at 9.55 p.m. EDT.

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 1s 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 Premiere (G2), a 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 9 from 10 career starts, heads wagering at 6-5 for the Premiere, carded as race no. 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 2nd 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 6-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 $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 field onto the track.

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night, with first post at 9:55 p.m. EDT alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Newcastle and Belmont.

About Michael Wrona

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.

Coverage of the Epsom Handicap for Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by Sky Racing World.