Asian Racing Review: Joao Moreira’s Randwick redemption?
Michael Cox and Andrew Le Jeune break down last weekend's monster Dubai World Cup meeting and look ahead to Day One of the Championships at Randwick, where Joao Moreira makes his long-awaited Sydney Group 1 return.

Joao Moreira will have a point to prove when he heads to Sydney for a riding stint that includes a return to Randwick and the scene of a couple of the most disappointing days of the champion’s career.
On this week’s Asian Racing Review, Asian Racing Report Editor Michael Cox said that Moreira’s return to what is likely to be a rain-affected track at Randwick brought to mind the Brazilian’s horror stretch at the track from 2014 to 2018.
“Joao heads back to Sydney, a place where he’s been pretty heavily criticised in the past,” Cox said, pointing to a day when Moreira was the last rider to be beaten on Winx in the midst of a 56-ride run-of-outs. Moreira has ridden five wins from 69 rides at Randwick at 7.1 per cent.
“He goes back and he finds a wet track as well, it’s a slow six rated today and more rain to come during the week, and that is what has found him out in the past,” Cox continued, comparing the Brazilian’s book of rides to those of his long-time Hong Kong rival Zac Purton.
The two champion riders – who have won the last nine Hong Kong Jockey Club championships between them – are on the top two in betting for the Doncaster Handicap.