TALENTED Brazilian jockey Jose Severo is keen to show Australian racing fans his own brand of “magic”!
A cousin of fellow Brazilian and international star Joao “Magic Man” Moreira, Severo has linked with leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.
However, he is “going to school” to brush up on his English before RacingNSW stewards licence him to ride in races here.
Severo is allowed to compete in barrier trials for Lees, and rode three horses for him at the Beaumont session last Friday.
He won an 800m Open heat on the Australian Bloodstock-raced mare Strapparsi, a Brisbane winner in February.
Severo, who turned 24 in March, has ridden 239 winners; four of them at Group 1 level.
They include last year’s Latin American, the biggest “grand prize” in Latin America.
Severo was Sao Paulo Jockey Club champion jockey in both 2020 and 2021.
He has also ridden a Group 2 winner along with nine each at Group 3 and Listed level.
“Joao Moreira recommended Jose come out to us,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said on Tuesday.
“He has been here for a few months, and is learning to speak English better.
“Once stewards are happy with that, he will get his ticket to ride in races.
“But that might be another couple of months away.
“Jose is obviously a very good rider, and will be a welcome addition to our ranks.”
Meanwhile, Lees will have a number of runners in feature races at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday as the Queensland winter carnival winds down.
Luncies (59.5kg) and Point King (54kg) will be acceptors for the $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m), Willinga Beast (54kg) for the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m), and Brudenell for the Open Plate (1000m).
Michael Rodd has been booked for prolific winner Brudenell, who is resuming and has equal topweight of 57.5kg in the set weights plus penalties event.
Brudenell is already a winner in two States (NSW and Victoria), and has a marvellous record of nine wins from 18 starts.
He has had two good trials at Scone (June 12) and Beaumont last Friday to prepare him for his return.
Willinga Beast, now owned by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, was to have run in the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday, but connections decided to wait a week as rain has been forecast, and she has performed well on heavy ground.
. Lees produced a promising import at Tuesday’s provincial meeting at Scone (transferred from Gosford because of track renovations).
Zaphod (Jean Van Overmeire) easily beat stablemate Pier Pressure (Andrew Gibbons) in the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1700m) at his first start since last October when Group 3 placed over 1810m at Leopardstown at only his second run.
He had won a 2YO Maiden Plate over the same distance at Tipperary when on debut 20 days earlier.
Both Zaphod’s Irish starts were on heavy tracks, so he had no trouble handling the “Heavy 10” at Scone, and scored in the manner of a young horse going places.
Fellow Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer also was successful at Scone, landing the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1600m) with $2.50 favorite Rapt, ridden by Ash Morgan.
Story John Curtis, July 2, 2024 - Pics supplied