Joao Moreira maintained a slender three-win advantage over jockeys’ premiership rival Zac Purton after landing a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Moreira struck first with Victorious Seeker (Sebring) before New Zealand-bred gelding Simply Fluke (NZ) (Keeper) made it two wins in as many runs when taking out the Class 4 North Point Handicap (1200m).
The five-year-old charged home from the tail of the field continuing his good run of form since joining the Douglas Whyte stable.
“I just allowed him to find his own rhythm,” Moreira said. “We know he’s got a good turn-of-foot and he’s the type of horse that if he gets there a bit too early he can lose concentration. He felt that way last start when he won.
“He built up a good momentum, they went quite fast in front and they were always going to be coming back for me on the home straight. His last section of the race was really good and he might win another one.”
Simply Fluke was purchased by Toro Bloodstock out of Bradbury Park’s 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft for $85,000.
He was initially trained in New Zealand by Cambridge conditioner Stephen Marsh for whom he won a trial over 800m before heading to Hong Kong.
