Championship leading jockey Joao Moreira is eager to bounce back onto the winner’s list with a full book of eight rides on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, following a two-meeting suspension.
One of those mounts is Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who proved a fine ally with a smart first-up win last time and is looking to follow-up in section one of the Class 3 Belcher Bay Handicap (1200m).
“It was very impressive, we had to do it tough coming from the widest gate facing the breeze three-wide, and at the line he was running away showing that he has got a lot of ability,” Moreira said.
The Caspar Fownes-trained four-year-old scored handily from gate 12 and this time he will step away from gate seven against 11 others.
“He’s no doubt a better horse than last year and that is expected as he’s been given more time. It feels like he is a horse that we are far off where he is going to get to – there’s plenty more to come from him,” Moreira said.
The youngster, who was purchased out of Highden Park’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft, is a three-time winner from six attempts and is looking to further advance that eye-catching record, which has resulted in a 28-point rating rise since his debut as a 52-rater.
“He’s a very straightforward horse and I’m sure he crossed the line with something left in the tank last start. He’s still in the making, he’s not fully used yet,” Moreira said.
The Darci Brahma gelding is eligible for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series should Fownes elect to go that route, along with stablemate Sky Field (Deep Field). The series kicks off on Sunday, 24 January, 2021 with the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile.
“He feels like more of a sprinter but I wouldn’t be surprised if Caspar (Fownes) gives him a chance to see if he can handle the mile or not, he’s talented and he deserves that chance,” the Brazilian said.
