BRAZILIAN ace Joao Moreira praised Green Power’s fighting spirit after partnering Chastleton trainer John Gallagher’s colt to a thrilling victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint at Ascot.
The Hong Kong-based rider powered the 12-1 chance home from Roundhay Park and George Of Hearts in a finish of necks in the closing six-furlong handicap at the annual jockeys’ team competition.
However, it wasn’t quite enough to enable Moreira, representing the Rest of the World, to snatch the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle as top rider from Hayley Turner, who triumphed by one point, 39-38, for overall winners, the Girls.
Moreira, who was completing a 70-1 double having won the previous race on 9-2 shot Berkshire Blue, said of Gallagher’s charge: “Things went his way. I couldn’t be more pleased with how it went. He has a fighting spirit.
“It couldn’t be any better and I am extremely happy. My horse crossed the line a head in front, so I was quite confident we had won.
“At one stage, I thought he was done and fortunately he kind of found another gear in the last 50 metres. He gave me it all and we got there in a good fashion.”
It was Gallagher’s second winner in the space of three days after Junoesque landed a mile handicap at Brighton by two lengths in the hands of Hector Crouch.
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