As knowledge of Joao Moreira's record-breaking exploits grew during the off season so did his waistline, and he hopes a heavy workload in Hokkaido this weekend will shed excess pounds ahead of the season opener at Sha Tin on September 6.
Hong Kong's reigning champion will contest the World All-Star Jockeys series, stretched over two days at Sapporo racecourse, riding in 10 of the 12 races both today and tomorrow - the total of 20 rides representing more than a week's worth of racing in Hong Kong.
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The series is decided by the results of two races on each day, but Moreira's Japanese-based booking agent Adam Harrigan was flooded with requests for the Magic Man's services outside of the designated series events. Moreira got off to a perfect start this morning when he notched his first ever winner in Japan, leading all the way on two-year-old filly Sumire.
"It's a lot of riding, but I needed to drop my weight and I think this will help me," Moreira said yesterday. "I've been walking around a few pounds over what I would like to be."
The Brazilian said he was still four pounds over his regular riding weight of 115 pounds and a demanding schedule would provide a stern fitness test for the 31-year-old.
"I've been on a diet, I have a pound more to go and this weekend should have me ready to ride comfortably at 115 pounds for the start of the season," he said.
After celebrating his unprecedented 145-win season, Moreira returned to his homeland during the break and after enjoying home-cooked hospitality, even took to the track to ensure his weight didn't get too out of hand.
"I hadn't planned to do any riding during the break, but I rode at one meeting at Sao Paulo to stay in shape - I rode a winner and finished second in a Group One," he said. "I wasn't 100 per cent fit and maybe if I was I would have got some better results, but it was an unforgettable experience. It was great to be back where I grew up and see some old friends."
The horses Moreira has drawn in this weekend's series have given him a great chance of success, with his rides in the first two legs in particular, Jun Fight Kun and Jungle Cruise, expected to be among the top two or three in betting.
Tomorrow, Moreira partners in-form sprinter Epoisses in the Group Three Keeneland Cup, a 1,200m turf sprint run over a course and distance at which his mount broke a track record last start.
"It's great to have so many rides, but my agent didn't just get any rides, he got some nice horses for me," he said.
Moreira has only ridden in Japan at one meeting, when Glorious Days finished sixth in the 2014 Yasuda Kinen behind Just A Way, and has not ruled out a stint in the country.
"The racing in Japan has a very good reputation and it is a dream of mine to ride a winner there," he said.
