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When April’s Knight got held up while desperately searching for a rails run in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C New Zealand Racing Board Trophy (2400m) on Sunday, it probably felt like déjà vu to jockey Joao Moreira.

The Brazilian ace took a tumble at the top of the straight last Friday when his mount Sebastien got poleaxed as a passage he was vying for between Roma and the fence closed up. The rider was lucky not to get dislodged, but rode for dear life to bring his mount from the brink of defeat and score right in the shadows of the post - and incidentally set a new record of 154 wins.

Uncannily, Moreira was in the same pickle on Sunday aboard a horse (April’s Knight) prepared by the same trainer and raced by the same connections as Sebastien – Stephen Gray and Paul Hickman of the St George Stable.

Turning for home, April’s Knight ($14) who had hugged the rails right from the start in a rearward position, was within striking distance but in a script reminiscent of Sebastien’s two days ago, did not have much galloping room with race-leader Maraeti (Koh Teck Huat) ahead of him sticking on the rails and several runners to his outside.

For about 100m, April’s Knight was just clambering over heels until Koh changed his whip through to his left hand to keep his mount from hanging in. That was when Maraeti rolled off the fence to lay out the perfect invitation Moreira had been hoping for.

April’s Knight, a former Class 5 galloper who has suddenly found a new lease of life after battling around over a variety of distances, sprinted through the gap to go and register back-to-back wins (scored in a Class 5 race over 2000m with Moreira aboard last time out), with Maraeti hanging on for second another 2 ¼ lengths away.

Alvito (Steven Li) who had settled in his customary position at the tailend, flew in late to grab third place another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 2min 31.95secs.

Moreira, who was at his third win having earlier saluted astride Enzo and Silveron Warrior, conceded the race did bring flashbacks of Sebastien’s win at the 400m, more so when he was atop another horse of his good friend Hickman’s, but was glad the outcome was thankfully not as dramatic this time.

“It did look like that race I won for Paul last Friday. But I was patient and the gap came up eventually,” said Moreira who admitted he may have erred in his estimation of the gap aboard Sebastien.

“This horse has improved so much and he also had a light weight. He really appreciated the distance and he was the best horse in the race.”

Gray said April’s Knight would make a “lovely jumper” back home – which as a happy coincidence happened to be the home country of the authority sponsoring the race – New Zealand.

“I thought they would be more spread out over a long distance, but they were quite bunched up for most of the race,” said the Kiwi handler.

“He’s a very weak and immature horse, but it seems he has finally come right. He would make a lovely jumper at home.”

By Johar out of the Last Tycoon mare It’s Spring Again, April’s Knight has now recorded four wins and three placings from 28 starts for stakes earnings in excess of $140,000 for the St George Stable.