Moor heads to Sydney for Randwick ride

Victorian jockey Daniel Moor will make a rare trip to Sydney to continue an association with the Danny O’Brien-trained Portman at Randwick.

Moor won on Portman at Bendigo two starts ago and was happy to answer the call from O’Brien to head north to ride the four-year-old in Saturday’s Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1600m).

Portman is part-owned by Qatar Bloodstock and also O’Brien.

“Craig Williams has got commitments at the Gold Coast – he’s obviously the number one choice for Qatar Bloodstock in Australia – but having won on Portman before Danny wanted someone who knew the horse and I’m happy to be going up to ride him,” Moor said.

“Dan suggested to me that I was in the mix (for the ride). I think James Doyle was also in the mix through his European connection but unfortunately for him he didn’t get his weight. But that’s fortunate for me so with that weight (55kg) he comes into the race nicely.”

Portman has had six starts for two wins and two placings.

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Since being gelded he has had three starts this campaign for two wins at Bendigo in a maiden and benchmark-70 before running second to Snitzson at Flemington last start.

“He’s quite progressive and relatively untapped,” Moor said.

“He’s a late maturing sort of type and this preparation he really hasn’t put a foot wrong. Even his second last start was good under the circumstances because he drew wide and had to push forward from that gate.

“He’s a nice talented horse going forward and hopefully he can just keep going through the grades.”

Moor has also picked up the ride on the David Brideoake-trained Hardern in Saturday’s TAB Handicap (2400m) should Brideoake elect to run in Sydney.

Hardern is also an acceptor for the Rain Lover Handicap (2500m) at Flemington.