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João Moreira (jockey)

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João Moreira
Moreira in 2023
NicknameMagic Man, Fantasma
OccupationJockey
Born (1983-09-26) September 26, 1983 (age 41)
Curitiba, Brazil
Career winsover 1200
Significant horses
Able Friend, Brazen Beau, Rapper Dragon,

João Moreira (born September 26, 1983), is a Brazilian jockey with extensive experience riding in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Japan. In 2017, Andrew Harding of the Hong Kong Jockey Club described him by saying, "You would have to say he was one of Brazil's greatest sporting exports. Joao is becoming to global racing what Pele or Ronaldo are to football."[1]

Early years

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João Henrique Almansa Moreira grew up in Curitiba, Brazil in the poor neighborhood of Pinhais. He was the youngest of eight children.[2] His family was very poor, and his father died of stomach cancer when Moreira was seven. They lived in a small shack, and at one point he got a job as a stablehand.[3] He was first recruited by a gang when he was eight, and he associated with gangs until he was 14, when his older brother helped him get out of that world, finding him a job at a furniture factory. Moreira explained in 2017, "I tell young people that I stumbled when I was that young, I got in with this crowd, but thank goodness I have someone who came into my life and showed me the way out.”[1] After becoming successful as a jockey, Moreira bought his widowed mother a house.[3]

He loved horses from an early age and was also fascinated by the underground world of two-horse match races in the area where he lived.[3] Moreira said in a 2016 interview, “I was pretty wild when I was young and I used to jump out the window late at night and go to the neighbour’s farm and ride their horses. During the night the owners of the horses were sleeping so that was the only time I could ride them. If I hadn’t done that, I never would have fallen in love with horses and who knows what I would be doing today?”[4] When he gained admittance to the jockeys’ academy in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he left Curitiba and began riding professIonally.[3] During his training at the academy, he lacked 2 of the required 6 wins in the first 6 months in order to continue at the school. In the final weekend before the deadline, he narrowly won the required races, keeping his spot in the school.[5] At age 16, he sought out the mentorship of Brazilian trainer Ivan Quintana, marking a turning point in his development as a jockey.[6]

Moreira developed a distinctive riding style, using a slightly longer stirrup and shorter rein that requires him to crouch lower on the horse while riding. Some consider it the key to his success. [2]

Career

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Moreira began his career in the 2005/06 season in Brazil as an apprentice jockey.[7]

Moreira riding in Japan in 2023

During his early career years in Singapore, he was given his nickname “Magic Man” by the track announcer Craig Evans because of Moreira’s ability to get horses to perform far better than expected.[8] He is also known as "Fantasma" or "Fantasma de Cidade Jardim" ("Ghost of Cidade Jardim") in Brazil.[9][5]

He has had at least three eight-win race days in his career.[8] The first was at Hipódromo Cidade Jardim, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2008.[2] One of the better-known was eight winners from eight rides on the nine-event card on Friday September 6, 2013, at Kranji race course in Singapore.[3] The third was at Sha Tin Racecourse on March 5, 2017, [10] breaking the previous Hong Kong jockey record of six.[2]

In 2013, a pivotal moment in his career arrived. While riding in Singapore, he was spotted by American trainer Wesley Ward, who suggested he come to the US. About the same time, he received offers to ride in Hong Kong, and decided to go there instead, as he was already based in Asia.[11]

He moved to Hong Kong in October 2013.[10] In 2018, he attempted to move to Japan, but could not obtain a full-time licence to ride there because he could not pass the difficult test on Japanese racing history, rules and general facts.[2] When he rode races in Japan later, he qualified for short term contracts of up to three months because of his successes elsewhere in the world.[12]

By the end of 2022, Moreira had ridden 1,234 winners, placing him third all-time in career victories in Hong Kong.[10] In November 2022, after a decade of riding in Hong Kong, he announced his retirement due to struggles with both his physical and mental health.[13] He pointed to struggles related to restrictions on jockeys linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and having moved his family back to Brazil. He also had not ridden since September 2022 due to problems with his left hip, with therapy yet to be successful. He relinquished his Hong Kong license in December 2022.[10]

Moreira returned to his home in Curitiba, Brazil. After Brazilian doctors provided successful treatment for his hip injury, he began riding races again.[12]. He rode in Australia for about six weeks in early 2023,[14] then returned to Brazil, winning 131 races, including the 2023 Grande Premio Brasil.[12] He returned to Australia again later in the year.[13] Moreira has been named the Champion Jockey in Brazil four times, in 2006/07, 2007/08, 2022/23, and 2023/24.[15]

He then came to Japan and qualified to ride there for three months during the 2024 season.[12] He then returned to Australia in September, 2024.[16] Moreira has also ridden in Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.[12]

In 2014, he was described as “one of the greatest jockeys in the world,”[17] but was not well-known in the United States. He spent a very brief time in the US, riding a total of 17 races at Arlington Park, Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park and at Churchill Downs in 2013, winning two.[8][11][18] He returned to Kentucky in 2025, where he rode for the first time in the Kentucky Derby in 2025 at age 41 aboard Fukuryu Stakes winner Luxor Cafe.[8]

As of 2025, he lives in Curitiba with his family. He takes short contracts in Japan and Australia, and when there are major races, flies to Hong Kong, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere.[11]

Major wins

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United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates

Australia Australia

Hong Kong Hong Kong

Japan Japan

Argentina Argentina

Brazil Brazil

Uruguay Uruguay

Performance at the Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Seasons Total Rides No. of Wins No. of 2nds No. of 3rds No. of 4ths Stakes won
2013/2014 478 97 71 59 51 HK$99,347,312
2014/2015 595 145 89 64 71 HK$173,715,365
2015/2016 664 168 105 101 61 HK$178,829,947
2016/2017 711 170 104 84 78 HK$207,249,728
2017/2018 660 134 98 76 74 HK$162,786,520
2018/2019 495 90 75 54 45 HK$132,239,825
2019/2020 719 138 123 91 68 HK206,911,365.50
2020/2021 742 157 103 93 76 HK215,300,250
2021/2022 694 132 103 69 76 HK182,602,240

References

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  1. ^ a b Bartley, Patrick (10 March 2017). "How Joao Moreira's brother saved him from Brazilian gang life". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Joao Moreira". Idol Horse. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Webster, Andrew (3 April 2015). "How jockey Joao Moreira went from Brazilian poverty to world's best jockey". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  4. ^ Dorries, Ben (June 10, 2016). "Champion jockey Joao Moreira wants to spread the magic around in pursuit of Australia's biggest races". Daily Telegraph.Au. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Mídia internacional repercute o retorno de João Moreira ao turfe brasileiro!!!". www.jockeysp.com.br. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  6. ^ "How Joao Moreira became 'The Magic Man'". ESPN.com. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  7. ^ Agrawal, Shivangi (2024-02-05). "Joao Moreira's G1 Success on Home Turf Sparks Reflection on His Storied Career – Here's All You Need to Know". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  8. ^ a b c d Frakes, Jason. "Luxor Cafe jockey Joao Moreira looks to deliver first Kentucky Derby victory to Japan". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  9. ^ Balla, Jair (2024-04-24). "Confirmado! João Moreira estará em Cidade Jardim e será uma das grandes atrações do Festival do G.P. São Paulo 2024!". Jockey Club de São Paulo. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  10. ^ a b c d Godfrey, Nicholas (November 24, 2022). "Magic Man: Joao Moreira shocks HK racing with plans to retire after farewell tour in 2023". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Morgan, David (30 April 2025). ""I Often Wonder": Joao Moreira's 'Sliding Doors' Moment That Took Him To Hong Kong Instead Of America". Idol Horse. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e Cox, Michael (19 June 2024). "No Walk In The Park: How Joao Got His Joy Back". Idol Horse. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  13. ^ a b Sadler, Edward (1 November 2023). "Magic Man's year to remember". RACING.COM. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  14. ^ Payne, Clinton (March 30, 2023). "Joao Moreira ready to chase Doncaster Mile success aboard Fangirl". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Troféu Mossoró". ABCPCC. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  16. ^ Cohen, Mitch (October 30, 2024). "Golden Eagle 2024: Globetrotting jockeys, international horses poised for $10m flight as the Eagle goes global". Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  17. ^ Nicolussi, Christian (September 29, 2014). "'Magic Man' Joao Moreira faces Epsom curse with He's Your Man at Royal Randwick". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Joao Moreira". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Perfil Jockey MOREIRA JOAO H. (BRZ)". www.studbook.org.ar. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
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