Chris Waller’s decision to recruit Joao Moreira back to Australia for the Spring Carnival reaped immediate dividends when the star jockey partnered Buckaroo to Group 1 success at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Brazilian maestro got the best out of the imported son of Fastnet Rock, who demolished his rivals in the $750,000 Underwood Stakes.
It was Moreira’s first Group 1 success in Melbourne since claiming the 2017 Oakleigh Plate aboard Sheidel with Moreira having only returned to the country earlier this week.
“It feels amazing, you know,” Moreira said.
“That’s what horse racing is about. When you get one up, the feeling doesn’t get any better.”
The Underwood Stakes success was Buckaroo’s second-straight success, following Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) victory, and while he raced on the pace that day at Randwick he swept home from just worse than midfield at Caulfield.
The six-year-old, who started $9, careered away over the final furlong, putting up a 3-1/2-length winning margin over Huetor, who powered home last as the $61 outsider of the field.
Pericles ($4.40), who rider Blake Shinn said did not run out a strong 1800m, battled away into third, a half-length back, with $3.80 favourite Place Du Carrousel a disappointing eighth – beaten six lengths – after playing up pre-race.
“When I turned for home on the outside, with him having great momentum, I was always confident he was going to get up,” Moreira said.
Buckaroo has now won five of 20 stats, with the Underwood Stakes success his first at the highest-level, and Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth put a lot of his turnaround in form down to the gelding operation that took place at the end of his autumn campaign.
“As a colt, he was actually too laid-back but now, as a gelding, he’s actually got a bit of spring in his step and he’s a bit more vibrant,” Duckworth said.
Buckaroo now owns the $11 second line in Caulfield Cup betting, behind $6 favourite Warmonger, while he is also at $26 in Cox Plate betting.
“It feels amazing, that’s what horse racing is about.” @cavaleiro83 collects another Group 1 win in Australia! pic.twitter.com/ilYMPcQ1mV
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 21, 2024
