Joao Moreira left Sapporo simply spellbound on Sunday as a four-win haul helped capture a win in the World All-Star Jockeys series and attracted what the champion rider hopes will be future big race rides on Japan's jet-setting horses.
The Magic Man put on a seven wins from 20-rides clinic over two days at the picturesque Hokkaido circuit, with the pièce de résistance a breathtaking, 10-out-of-10 display on the aptly named Bravissimo.
The beautifully timed ride was typical of the 31-year-old's virtuoso performance and Moreira hopes to parlay his newfound fame in the racing-mad nation into Group One rides on horses prepared there.
"I have a very high opinion of Japanese horses, I think they are very good, so if they take some horses somewhere and I've made a good impression here, maybe I will be offered some rides," Moreira told the media throng that surrounded him after the races.
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"It was very important that I did well, because there could be some more fruits to come from this trip."
Having notched earlier victories on La Cime, Miss Erika and Albert, and finished runner-up in three other races, Moreira positioned Bravissimo perfectly from a wide gate before weaving between runners late to all but secure his series win.
"I wanted to ride him back, but I was instructed to go forward and ride him closer," Moreira explained. "When I saw the pace was too hot, I let him drop out a little and take cover. In the straight I was stuck where I didn't have a run, so I had to be patient, the run came at just at the right time and the horse was brave enough to take the gap."
Adding significance to Bravissimo's win was the fact it was while riding for one of Japan's most successful trainers, Nasosuke Sugai - handler of superstars Gold Ship and Just A Way - and while wearing one of the country's most iconic set of silks, the black, blue and yellow of owner Makoto Kaneko, who raced the country's greatest ever racehorse, Deep Impact.
Bravissimo's timely win came 24 hours after a headline grabbing treble - which included success for the all-powerful Yoshida family, and the final win of which put Moreira in the box seat in the World All-Star Jockeys series.
Having won two of the races against some of the world's best riders, and with a placing in the other, Moreira led by 15 points coming into the fourth and final leg but could still be caught by local legend Yutake Take.
Take needed a top-two finish at least to challenge, but he finished unplaced, as did Moreira on an outsider, but it was enough for the Brazilian to secure a memorable triumph.
"It was just so special," said Moreira, who won his first Hong Kong championship last season with a record 145 wins. "I can't believe this is happening. I just give thanks to God and wait to see where he will take me next."
