“He’ll never ever forget this race”: Did horror steer cost Soulcombe Melbourne Cup millions?

Of the dozens of narratives out of the 2023 Melbourne Cup, Joao Moreria will be questioning one that could have been for some time to come.

Moreira, who rode Soulcombe into second place in Tuesday’s race that stops the nation, is among the most talented jockeys racing has ever seen.

But the ‘Magic Man’ would like his time back on the Cups second favourite. While Without A Fight was a deserving winner and was eased down to win by over two lengths, Moreira’s decision to get off the winner’s back cost Soulcombe a chance to be in the finish.

Gerard Whateley summed it up post-race.

“Soulcombe stood there and missed the start maybe four lengths and then they’ll cry tears of blood over this for years the Soulcombe owners and Soulcombe backers, Joao Moreira is essentially on Mark Zahra (Without A Fight's) back and he makes a set of fateful decisions,” he told SEN.

“No magic and no luck, he goes like a shopping trolly left and right trying to find a way through.”

Veteran trainer Wayne Hawkes was even stronger, suggesting Moreira will never forget what could have been.

Moreira originally attempted to go to the outside of Withotu A Fight at the top of the straight before having to straighten up and then duck back inside to avoid more traffic.

“When Joao Moreria watched the replay he’s going to ring up David Copperfield and say I’m the Magic Man, can you make me disappear,” Hawkes added.

“You just keep watching it and keep thinking ‘oh no’, it gets worse and worse every time you watch it for Joao.

“He jumped off the back of the winner, that’s the hardest thing… when you’ve jumped off the back of the winner, he’ll never ever forget this race for as long as he lives.”

Soulcombe still pockets $1.1 million for connections for his performance in the race, his biggest paycheck to date.