Trainer Willie Mullins has booked Brazilian reignsman Joao 'Magic Man' Moreira to partner G2 Doncaster Cup S. second-place finisher Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling) in the Nov. 7 G1 Melbourne Cup. Mullins will also have 2015 runner-up Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) and 2016 G1 Irish St. Leger winner Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB]). Moreira was aboard the Tony Martin-trained Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger})) when he was beaten just a head by Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) in last year's edition.
Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said, “It's magic that someone with his experience wants to ride Thomas Hobson–it's a big endorsement of his chances. He went very close to winning the race on Tony Martin's horse and it's great to have him on board.”
Mullins confirmed that one of his Melbourne Cup hopefuls, Wicklow Brave, could first contest the G1 Caulfield Cup on Oct. 21. The fourth member of the four-strong team for Closutton in Australia, is Riven Light (Ire) (Raven's Pass), who runs in the G1 Ladbrokes S. at Caulfield on Saturday.
“David Casey is down there with the horses and he's happy with how Riven Light is working,” Mullins added. “There's some great prize-money on offer and it will be interesting to see how he measures up to Australian horses.”
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