Moreira locked in for Cup ride

CHAMPION Hong Kongbased jockey Joao Moreira has been confirmed as the rider of Melbourne Cup favourite Constantinople, replacing three times Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss.

Moreira, the jockey punters call the Magic Man, had been placed on standby to ride Constantinople if Boss’s appeal against the suspension was turned down but he had indicated to Hayes he wouldn’t come unless he had the ride.

Boss had been booked to ride Constantinople but he was suspended last Saturday at Randwick for six meetings.

He has appealed against the suspension in the hope of staying on Constantinople but that won’t be heard by Racing NSW stewards until Monday.

He was hoping to gain a stay from stewards to ride in the Melbourne Cup.

Boss, who has won The Everest and the Epsom Handicap in recent weeks, doesn’t have a Melbourne Cup ride as a result.

Hayes had been in contact with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who agreed to let Moreira go to Melbourne if he was guaranteed the ride on the horse.

Under Hong Kong rules, Moreira couldn’t come to Australia unless he had a guaranteed Group 1 ride.

Hayes, who will head to Hong Kong next year, had also

booked Moreira for four other rides at Flemington on Tuesday. Moreira will arrive in Melbourne on Monday.

He has ridden in three Melbourne Cups, with his best result a second on Heartbreak City in 2016.

Meanwhile, a start in the Melbourne Cup for Constantinople’s stablemate Neufbosc will hinge on his performance in the Lexus Hotham Handicap at Flemington today.

Neufbosc is No.24 on the order or entry for the Cup and can be leapfrogged if he does not win the Hotham with the winner of today’s 2500m handicap guaranteed a start.

Hayes said Neufbosc would not be a Cup acceptor if he performed poorly today.