Bubbles were bursting all over the place yesterday as a pair of four-year-olds sent around as odds-on fancies disappointed with Joao Moreira aboard, but the Magic Man at least put another short-priced favourite on a path to Class One when Circuit Land was successful.

Bred in the United States but beginning his career in France, Danny Shum Chap-shing's Circuit Land stepped up to a mile for the first time yesterday, producing a convincing win that will see his rating leap into the 80s. The dominant display gave reigning champion jockey Moreira an early treble and a highlight for the day.

"He was very impressive - he goes into Class Two now, but he is going to be a Class One horse, there is no doubt about it at all," Moreira said of the rising five-year-old. "He did everything right today - I was just the passenger really."

Circuit Land started 1.5 and saluted as the shortest-priced winner of the day, giving Moreira three wins from the first six races and helping to put the Jockey Challenge to bed early once again.

But what followed in the next two races for the Brazilian were the defeats of John Size-trained pair So Fast at 1.9 and Amazing Kids at 1.7, with both horses copping a dent in their Classic Mile aspirations.

Circuit Land's maiden local victory had given Moreira an amazing 21 wins from the 10 meetings he has ridden at so far this season as he made good use of a low draw, putting the horse into the box seat and letting the son of Mizzen Mast do the rest.

"The gate was the key to have him well placed during the race - he got a lovely run, sure, but he really impressed me with the way he finished off, he was just so strong to the line," said Moreira.

"Now, up in grade with a light weight, he is going to hit the line even quicker at the finish. I think Danny has a very nice horse in his stable and all he has to do is take care of him, which he has so far, and the sky is the limit."

Circuit Land arrived in Shum's stable from France with what looked on paper to be only fair form and also with the usual list of concerns for horses from that part of the world.

"Some French horses can be too slow and not like hard tracks, but he has acclimatised well - I think it is the US breeding that helps," Shum said, adding that a gelding operation in February had been crucial.

"Cutting him was the key. He is a very nice horse - he never overraces or pulls. He was never going to lose today, he has only had five starts for me so I think he can still improve."

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