The rapid emergence of Courier Wonder as a galloper of potentially highest ilk has left Joao Moreira with a palpable sense of anticipation ahead of the Class 3 D’Aguilar Peak Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (11 April).
John Size’s charge has won his only two starts by gaping margins – five and a quarter lengths on debut and three and a half lengths second-up, both over Sha Tin’s 1200m course – to stamp himself as a prospective top-liner and Moreira is suitably impressed.
“The (last-start) win itself (on 21 March) was very impressive and he gave me such a good feel – I would describe it as good as you could wish from a horse having his second run in town,” the Brazilian maestro said.
“He’s very talented. He’s the type of horse jockeys dream to be sitting on board. I call myself a very lucky guy, very blessed for riding such a horse.
“He is very straight-forward, very kind, very relaxed and he understands that, when it comes to the business, he delivers his best. He tries his best always and, secondly, he is very tractable.
“His finish is very powerful, he is very strong to the line – it looks like the sky is going to be the limit for this horse.”
Pitted against nine rivals, the son of Sacred Falls has drawn gate eight and will carry 133lb as he bids to maintain an unblemished record. Moreira is tellingly unfazed by steep rise in weight, after last start carrying 121 pounds to effortless victory.