They call it “magic man”, a reference to Joao Moreira The first days as a jockey in Singapore when he did not always go on the best horses.
Moreira attributes to the advertiser Craig Evans of the advertiser of the Singapore track for having given him the nickname.
“When I got there, I didn't have the best opportunities,” said Moreira Tuesday morning at the back Churchill Downs. “I have always been able to obtain good horses that were not in good shape.
“One day (Evans) said:” This kid makes magic with these horses who have no shape. “From there, he started calling me” Magic Man “. It obviously helped me, I guess.
Luxor Café Horse: Look at the competitor of Kentucky Derby 2025 working in Ky
Look at the competitor of Kentucky Derby Luxor Café work in Churchill Downs. The horse formed by the Japanese and possessed has a sheet of 4-1-0 in six starts. The jockey is Joao Moreira.
Moreira, a 41 -year -old man from Brazil, has had a strong career by driving in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Brazil and will have the chance of a life on Saturday when he made his debut in Kentucky Derby on board Luxor Café.
“It's like a dream come true,” said Moreira.
Moreira was in irons Tuesday morning when the Luxor Café finished his last pre-Kentucky derby Breeze, going five stages in 1: 02.40.
The Luxor Café – 15-1 in the morning line – will enter Kentucky Derby after a five -length victory in the challenges of Japanese Fukuryu on March 29. The Luxor Café arrived in Chicago on April 21 and experienced forty 42 hours before going to Churchill Downs on April 23.
“Travel obviously withdrew a little of him, but he is going so well, eating everything,” said Moreira. “He just seems to be very happy, like me.”
The nickname of “Magic Man” of Moreira was stimulated by several great moments during his career, including eight days of victory three times.
He briefly mounted Churchill Downs in 2013, winning a special first weight with Princess Millie formed by Wesley Ward. And after Kentucky Derby, he will go directly to Brazil to ride in group 1 of Sunday Premio Sao Paulo.
Kate Hunter, representative of Churchill Downs in Asia, likes the chances of Moreira, here and abroad.
“If you look at his results in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Brazil, it speaks in a way of himself and his abilities,” said Hunter. “Everyone is still worried, you will not be able to do well in your first derby, but if there is someone who will be able to remove it from the hat, it would be” Magic Man “.”
Son of the winner of Triple Crown 2015, American Pharoah, Luxor Café was raised in Kentucky before being sold in Koichi Nishikawa. The six Luxor Café races came to Japan, where he accumulated a file of 4-1-0 and won four consecutive departures.
Moreira set up the Luxor Café for the first time in the Fukuryu Stakes.
“I thought he was going to win, but in a way he won much more impressive than I thought,” said Moreira. “Obviously, the terrain was not as strong as the race he will run on Saturday. But he did what a good horse does.”
Luxor Café is one of the two hopes for Japan, joining Japan Admire. He also broke five stadiums in 1: 02.40 Tuesday.
Admire Daytona was defeated twice by Luxor Café in Japan.
“His strong point is that he does not need to have a position,” said Daytona coach, admires, Yukihiro Kato. “He can run from any position. Sometimes he could lose a little attention along the way.”
The Luxor Café and admire Daytona represent the latest attempts in Japan to capture Kentucky Derby.
Lani, a high in Kentucky bought by Yoko Maeda from Japan, rolled the ball in 2016, finishing ninth in Kentucky Derby. Master Fencer became the first Japan-Bred in Kentucky Derby in 2019, finishing sixth.
Forever Young almost obtained Japan its first victory for Kentucky Derby last year, finish third in a finish photo.
Hunter said that candidates in Japan triple Crown have totaled 70 this year, against less than 50 in 2024.
“Last year was so close,” said Hunter. “But I think that” so close “… really invigorated the population of riders to try to go here.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerByCJ.
