Moreira to ride Cup co-favourite

Hong Kong star Joao Moreira will ride the Melbourne Cup cofavourite Constantinople in Tuesday’s A$8 million Melbourne Cup.

The booking for Moreira will be a big blow for fellow rider Glen Boss, who was suspended last weekend on a careless riding charge just days after securing the mount.

It is understood that Moreira was not certain to make the trip to Melbourne for Tuesday’s meeting without the commitment of a Cup ride and so the horse’s connections have decided to book him, rather than take the risk he stays in Hong Kong.

Moreira had been booked for four rides for the Lindsay Park stable on the undercard on Tuesday, but he was not certain to want to come or be released by the Hong Kong Jockey Club without a Melbourne Cup ride locked in.

Connections of the Irish import had been hopeful Boss would be allowed to take the ride following Monday’s appeal hearing in NSW, but his availability is also not certain as connections could get no guarantees the appeals panel would grant him leave to fulfil any engagement that falls in a 48-hour period after the appeals ruling.

There is no word as to whether Boss will continue with his appeal on Monday.

Moreira has ridden in three Melbourne Cups.

He went close at his latest attempt when the import Heartbreak City was narrowly defeated by Almandin in 2016.

Constantinople firmed into $7 with Aussie TAB fixed odds for the Cup after his unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Cup. TAB fixed odds reported a bet of $4500 on Constantinople at $7 yesterday.