Joao Moreira booked for Constantinople ride in Melbourne Cup

Hong Kong star Joao Moreira will ride the Melbourne Cup co-favourite Constantinople in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.

The booking for Moreira will be a big blow for Glen Boss, who was suspended last weekend on a careless riding charge just days after securing the ride.

It is understood that Moreira was not certain to make the trip to Melbourne for the meeting without the commitment of a Cup ride and so the horse's connections have decided to book him, rather than take the risk he stays in Hong Kong.

Moreira had been booked for four rides for the Lindsay Park stable on the undercard on Tuesday, but he was not certain to be released by the Hong Kong Jockey Club without a Melbourne Cup ride locked in.

Connections of the Irish import had been hopeful Boss would be allowed to take the ride following Monday's appeal hearing in NSW, but his availability is also not certain as connections could get no guarantees the appeals panel would grant him leave to fulfill any engagement that falls in a 48-hour period after the appeals ruling.

Constantinople (second): leading fancy for the Melbourne CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

There is no word as to whether Boss will continue with his appeal on Monday.

Moreira had ridden in three Melbourne Cups and went close at his latest attempt when the import Heartbreak City was narrowly defeated by Almandin in 2016.

BetEasy has Constantinople and the Japanese galloper Mer De Glace as $8 co-favourites.

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