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Champion jockey Joao Moreira's spectacular rise to the top of the riding ranks at Kranji seem to have opened up a door between Brazil and Singapore, as a third compatriot will try to emulate his feats from next week.
With Moreira having taken the local racing scene by storm ever since he landed from Sao Paulo in March 2009, winning two jockey's premierships and smashing record after record, it wasn't long before fellow Brazilian Nelito Cunha fronted up at Kranji with big dreams “to be like Joao” in 2010.
But it proved a hard act to follow for Cunha, who besides riding only 21 winners in 261 rides, lacked Moreira's “Magic” charisma, and eventually left for Macau last year.
Exit Cunha and enter jockey Ivaldo Santana. Also inspired by what a mate from the same Sao Paulo jockey's room has done in faraway Singapore, the 2010/2011 Sao Paulo champion jockey threw his hat in the ring and was recently granted a six-month licence by the Singapore Turf Club.
Santana, who arrived in Singapore on Tuesday, was seen at Kranji on Thursday morning, but not in his riding gear to ride trackwork as his licence only commences on January 15.
“I know Joao very well as he used to ride in Sao Paulo too,” said Santana through Moreira as interpreter. “I have of course heard how well he has done in Singapore and I thought: 'why not me?'
“I've only ridden in Argentina and Uruguay outside Brazil and I wanted to try a new experience.
“The track is beautiful. We don't have any tracks like this back home and I can't wait to ride on it.”
Santana actually began his riding career as an apprentice in Rio de Janeiro where he rode around 90 winners mainly for his master, top trainer Victor Pain for four years, before he was lured to Sao Paulo by top owner Roberto Campos of Palura Stud.
Singapore is now his second big move in an 11-year career, and though Santana knows he has a daunting task ahead, not to mention the language barrier he will face when dealing with English-speaking trainers and owners, he seemed oblivious of the tall shadow Moreira may cast on him.
With more than 800 wins to his name including 49 black-type races of which 12 were won at Group 1 level, Santana, whose wife Adriana will join him later, is confident he can hold his own.
“I'm very happy and excited to be here,” said Santana who counts his 2006 Triple Crown win on three-year-old filly Colina Verde as his career highlight.
“I have ridden more than 800 winners in 11 years of riding. I think I should be able to prove myself here.
“Joao is a good friend and I'm grateful to him for helping me find my way here, but in a race we give each other no mercy.
“If I do well, and I hope I do, I would seriously consider staying here for a longer time.”
