‘Gets worse every time you watch it’: Jockey wasted Cup runner-up who ‘should’ve won by a minute’

Trainer Wayne Hawkes has delivered a scathing assessment of Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira’s ride on Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe.

As has become the norm for Soulcombe, the Waller-trained import walked out of the stalls from barrier four, settling a clear last in the 23-horse field.

Moreira, the third jockey to partner Soulcombe this spring after Blake Shinn and Craig Williams, steered over to the fence on the $9.50 chance.

MORE MELBOURNE CUP

HIGHLIGHTS & REPORT: Jockey’s bold gamble pays off in stunning 22-year double

WHO WON THE MELBOURNE CUP? Results from the great race

FULL FINISHING ORDER: Where your horse finished in the Melbourne Cup

DIVIDENDS: How much did the winner, trifecta and first four pay?

WHO BACKED THE WINNER? The experts who nailed it

BIGGEST BETS LANDED: Who cashed in on the Cup?

Moreira had the back of the eventual winner Without A Fight at the halfway mark as the leader Serpentine strung the field right out.

After following Without A Fight all the way to the 600m, Moreira shifted wider in the hope of finding a gap down the middle of the track.

Soulcombe subsequently found roadblocks from the top of the straight until the 200m, by which time Zahra and Without A Fight were off and gone with the prize.

“It gets worse and worse every time you watch it for Joao,” Hawkes told SENTrack.

“He will never, ever forget this race as long as he lives.

“He should’ve won by a minute Soulcombe.”

Soulcombe was strong through the line to grab second but Without A Fight held a comfortable 2.25 length margin to complete the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double.

“Obviously very proud of him putting on a good performance,” Moreira said post-race.

“Things didn’t really go his way.

“Not jumping that well made it a little bit difficult for him, as well as getting into a bit of traffic at the 600, 700 metres, also counted against him winning the race but I’m very proud of how he ran.”

This article was originally published at Punters and was republished with permission.