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Champion jockey Joao Moreira did not feel any more pressure than he normally does when he climbed aboard Mal’s Dad on Sunday, but deep down, he just had a little more at heart that desire to guide the maiden to his first win.

The Brazilian, who was at his first assignment aboard the Savabeel four-year-old - partnered at his four previous Kranji starts by jockey Danny Beasley - was approached for the ride by part-owner Wayne Crispe at the barrier trials on Tuesday. Nothing surprising given the three-time Singapore champion jockey ‘s services are highly sought after, but when Moreira found out Crispe’s wife Judy has not been in the best of health and will be at the races on Sunday, he made a silent pledge to himself he would make Mal’s Dad rise to the occasion.

As it turned out, Moreira proved to be the right choice after he gave Mal's Dad a peach of a ride from the start, timing his run to perfection when he set him alight at the 300m to go and defeat the improving Northern Gold (Corey Brown) by half-a-length. Mal’s Dad’s stablemate Lucky Lion who had New Zealand jockey Lisa Allpress up for her first Kranji ride at her new three-month licence, ran on for third another length away.

Sent out as the $14 favourite, Mal’s Dad ran the 1400m on the Short Course of The Peak Stakes, an Initiation Division 1 race over 1400m on turf in 1min 23.95secs.

Emotions ran high at the winner’s enclosure as Mal’s Dad was led back in triumph by the jubilant Crispe couple accompanied by trainer Stephen Gray and his wife Bridget. With the joy of having helped the Crispe couple seize that unique moment clearly transcending the feeling of booting home yet another of his weekly fair dose of winners, Moreira could not resist giving Judy Crispe a warm hug after he weighed in.

“This is one of the special moments in racing I always look forward to. They don’t happen very often, but when they do, they mean so much to me and I’m feeling very emotional about it,” said Moreira who was at a race-to-race double after winning with Aratiatia in the first race to bring his 2013 score to 139 wins.

“Judy is one amazing lady and to win that race for her is something I so dearly wanted to do today. I’m so glad I’ve pulled it off.

“They rolled along in front and I was happy with the way he was travelling so relaxed. I probably went in front a bit too early, but he just kept giving to win a very nice race.

“I think there is still a lot of improvement to come out of him after today’s race. Stephen has done a great job with this horse.”​

While being able to share Mal’s Dad’s maiden success with his wife meant the world to Crispe, the Brisbane-born Singapore-based expatriate, who races Mal’s Dad with his brother, Racing and Sports CEO Gary and Robert Vilkaitis under the Garwyn Stable, said the win also bore other tingling sensations.

“Mal’s Dad is named after my son Malcolm. I chose that name because his mates knew me as Mal’s Dad, but didn’t really know who I was,” said Crispe as he chinked flutes of champagne with Judy.

“The other nice story is the colours. These were my father’s colours back in Brisbane in the 60s, but they’ve never won.

“So today is the first time these colours have crossed the line first, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

“I happened to be at the barrier trials last Tuesday and I did tell Joao I would like him to ride Mal’s Dad as Judy was going to the races on Sunday, and it would be lovely if he could win – and that’s Joao for you, he’s such a champion jockey and he’s done it!”

Gray said Mal’s Dad was a horse he always held in high regard from the outset, but he has not been able to find the line through no real fault of his.

“He was not well ridden at his last start, and today’s win proved the point,” said Gray pulling no punches.

“He actually should have won earlier, but has been unlucky. He should have won at his first start, went missing at his next, just got beaten at his next and was badly ridden at his last.

“Today, I told Joao to ride him quiet and he will get to the line. He’s drawn a moderate barrier again, but Joao bounced him out well and they were always travelling in a good spot.

“He didn’t really have the mentality before and has slowly come on. He will make a lovely stayer one day, a 2000m horse, and I will probably step him up to the mile next.”