Mullins picks Moreira to partner Thomas Hobson in Melbourne Cup bid

Willie Mullins, who came so close to winning the Melbourne Cup with Max Dynamite in 2015, has revealed that Joao Moreira will be on his side as he bids for success at Flemington on November 7.

Moreira, widely regarded as one of the best riders in the world, will ride the Mullins-trained, Rich Ricci-owned Thomas Hobson.

Mullins said on Wednesday: "Thomas Hobson and Max Dynamite are over there and the plan is for both to run.

"Joao Moreira is booked to ride Thomas Hobson. We haven't made a booking for Max Dynamite just yet."

Max Dynamite (left, pink) was narrowly denied by Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 Melbourne CupCredit: Vince Caligiuri

He added: "Wicklow Brave runs in the Caulfield Cup a week on Saturday and we'll see how things go with him before deciding whether he will run."

Thomas Hobson won the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and was last seen finishing second in the Doncaster Cup, meaning he has a fairly similar profile to that of stablemate Max Dynamite when he finished second at Flemington.

Nicknamed 'Magic Man,' Moreira rides predominantly in Hong Kong, where in March he made history by riding eight winners on the same card. He also often rides in Australia where he has recorded plenty of big-race success, primarily for trainer Chris Waller.

He has never won the Melbourne Cup, nor has he ridden for Mullins, but he was aboard Heartbreak City – trained by Tony Martin – who was beaten just a head by Almandin in last year's Cup.

Joao Moreira and Heartbreak City (yellow, far side) go down narrowly to Almandin in the 2016 Melbourne CupCredit: Vince Caligiuri

The Brazilian-born rider has ridden in Britain on a couple of occasions. His most recent visit came in 2015, when he travelled specifically to ride Able Friend but nearly bagged a 50-1 winner aboard spare ride Medicean Man in the King's Stand Stakes.

His first visit, where he rode a winner on the Shergar Cup card in 2013, was also notable as he went missing in the days leading up to the meeting and was almost reported as a missing person by officials at the course.

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