Joao Moreira and a talent that knows no borders: he won the first Abu Dhabi Gold Cup

The Brazilian jockey guided the Japanese Strauss to win the race that offered 1,000,000 dollars in purses

Joao Moreira, from Brazil to glory in Abu Dhabi / ADTC

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).- History began to be written in bold letters from its very conception and was sealed with a performance that traveled across the racing world. The inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup (L-1600 m, turf) not only debuted a race destined to hold a privileged place on the international calendar but also offered a powerful image of globalized turf: a Japanese horse, a Brazilian jockey, and a setting of absolute excellence in the United Arab Emirates.

The protagonist was Strauss, a Japanese runner who became the first horse from his country to compete and win in Abu Dhabi, under the guidance of the inexhaustible João Moreira, who once again proved that his talent knows no borders. The pupil of Ryo Takei won with authority in the mile on turf, in a race endowed with one million dollars—the highest prize ever offered in the Emirate—closing a night of luxury at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club.

From post 10, Strauss traveled the first half of the journey in the middle of the pack, with Moreira reading every move of the race. The Brazilian, true to his surgical style, took advantage of an inner lane and built the race step by step. Upon entering the homestretch, the "Magic Man" let him loose and the son of Maurice responded immediately: he accelerated decisively, took the lead with 200 meters to go, and bravely resisted the final onslaught of his rivals to win by a length.

“He is a really good horse. The trainer did a fantastic job bringing him here in this condition,” Moreira noted after dismounting, also praising the venue. “The Abu Dhabi track is one of the best in the world: flat, fair, perfect for a good horse to shine. When I opened him up in the stretch, he went whoosh,” the Brazilian summarized with a smile, celebrating a dream debut in the Emirate.

On the other side, Takei did not hide his gratitude toward the jockey who was key in the journey. “We came all the way here because we knew João could ride him. He is one of the best jockeys in the world, he knows how to teach horses to race, and today he proved it,” the trainer explained, admitting that the development did not go as he had imagined, but Moreira's intelligence was ultimately decisive.

The field was truly international. Dark Trooper (Dark Angel), a Qatari representative trained by Alban de Mieulle, charged hard to take second place, while Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett), from Irishman Donnacha O’Brien, completed the podium. The favorite Quddwah (Kingman), recent winner of the Zabeel Mile (G2) at Meydan, had to settle for fourth place for the team of Simon and Ed Crisford.

As a finishing touch, the victory secured Strauss a guaranteed spot in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1) next May 2nd at Churchill Downs, as part of the Kentucky Derby program.