Magic Man delivers for Spain as Forza Toro wins football-themed race
Football fever reached a climax at Happy Valley as Joao Moreira guided Forza Toro to a dominant victory in the colours of Spain in the Class 4 Eight To Glory Handicap on Wednesday night.
A bumper crowd braved the rainy conditions to cheer home their favoured country representative in the night’s football-themed feature. In the event, Irish import Forza Toro (133lb) chose a special race to seal an impressive first win in Hong Kong racing.
Breaking quickly from barrier one, Moreira positioned the four-year-old hard against the rail at the head of the field, a position he would never relinquish. Already holding a two-length advantage on the bend, he powered clear in the final 250m, leaving the David Eustace-trained Podium (119lb, in the colours of Norway), ridden by Matthew Poon, and David Hayes’ Precision Hope (121lb, France) under Alexis Badel boxing on in vain for the minor placings three lengths further back.
It was a win that tightened trainer Caspar Fownes’ grip on a fifth trainers’ championship title.
“We’ve been spending a bit of time to try and get him to jump well,” Fownes said.
“Of course, the ‘Magic Man’ (Moreira) on top got him to jump nicely, control the pace, and it was a lovely, lovely win for us in the inaugural EIGHT TO GLORY Lenovo race.
“I’m very happy to win that; I’ll keep that trophy by my bed!”
In the unique eight-runner event, each horse symbolised one of the eight remaining nations in the football tournament’s quarter-finals. Jockeys wore specially designed silks inspired by the flags and national colours of the country to which they were allocated.
