Nunes leaves Australia, but vows to come back
Former five-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes is on the move again.
Eight months after taking his saddle to Adelaide following the closure of Singapore racing on Oct 5, the Brazilian ace is being lured back to a country where he once ruled the roost - Mauritius.
One of the leading stables on the racing-mad Indian Ocean island rolled out the red carpet to the 2019 Mauritius champion jockey last week, after talks with two Australian jockeys who are no stranger to Kranji fell through, Noel Callow and Daniel Moor.
Nunes thought long and hard about the offer from the Gujadhur family as the racing experience in his new Adelaide base has overall been enjoyable, even if the wins have tapered off recently.
With 26 wins (including two at a trial to test the waters in August) from 200 rides since his debut at Murray Bridge on Oct 12, the 49-year-old sits in seventh place on South Australia's metropolitan log, a fair gap off the premiership-battling duo of Rochelle Milnes (41) and Taylor Johnstone (39).
On the other hand, Nunes was a household name in Mauritius, treated like Hollywood celebrity wherever he went, but at the same time, its horse racing has since lost its lustre.
It had been at the crossroads after Covid-19 struck in 2020, and the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) was eventually ousted under controversial circumstances in the last two years.
It has been claimed that the newly created organiser had close links with the previous government.
Following the return to power of the MTC-friendly Labour party and its coalition allies after a landslide victory over the old regime at the last general election in November, the MTC was soon restored into their Champ de Mars home.
No doubt, the pro-MTC Gujadhurs' comeback after a self-imposed hiatus during the club switch also injects renewed hope into a beleaguered industry looking for a fresh reboot on July 26.
The Gujadhurs' purchase of 20 quality South African-breds aimed at the elite races was the carrot dangled to Nunes, but doubtfully juicy enough against the substantially more lucrative prize money in Australia.
But, if Nunes' Australian stint had one flip side of the coin that could sway him, it was the winter months, even if Mauritius got the nod not just for its warmer climate.
"It's now winter in Australia, and I just hate the cold. Don't get me wrong, I love my beach house in Glenelg, but it's tough with the dropping temperatures," he said.
"But I'm going to ride for the Gujadhur stable mainly because it's an honour to wear their famous blue and red sash silks. The season is only five months long until December.
"My Australian visa is long-term. So it means I can still come back here to ride after the Mauritius season is over."
Nunes, who boasts more than 2,200 winners ridden all around the world in Brazil, Argentina, Macau, Singapore, Mauritius, South Korea, Dubai and Australia, would be loath to burn the bridges with the latter.
"It wasn't an easy decision to make. I really enjoy Australian racing, especially here in Adelaide," said Nunes, who also spent one week in Perth in December riding one winner.
"I can't thank Racing SA's (South Australia) former CEO (chief executive officer) Vaughn Lynch and their new No. 1 Nick Bawden enough. They helped me a lot when I applied for my jockey's licence and work permit for Australia.
"I also have to mention the Singapore trainers who gave me solid references. Without them, I couldn't have made it.
"And, of course, a big thank you to trainer Michael Hickmott who was the first to sponsor me in Adelaide, and (retired ex-Kranji jockey) Barend Vorster and his wife Nikki for their friendship and helping me settle in so quickly.
"The jockeys have also been friendly, like Jake Toeroek, Jason Holder and Todd Pannell. But there are too many names to mention, and I don't want to leave anybody out.
"This is not farewell, though. I'll definitely come back to Australia."
In May, whispers of an exit began to swirl after his main supporter, Kranji owner Mansoor Gandhi, moved his team of five ex-Singapore horses from Angaston trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor to Perth.
The exodus included Bakeel, who won three races in a row in South Australia.
A drop in rides - not to mention winners - also fuelled those rumours, but Nunes refuted the suggestions. He had simply fallen foul to kidney stones during a short trip in Singapore to visit his girlfriend, and was on the sidelines for treatment.
Once he recovered, he returned a winner at Murray Bridge on May 24, aboard Great Maximus for trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
The visits to the winner's circle have, however, again dried up since, something he puts down to the big stables being tied down to their stable riders.
"The top trainers already have their own jockeys, and it's hard to chase for the better rides," he said.
"Still, I have good support all round, and some trainers have already texted me to say how they would miss me when I leave."
Nunes' last Australian meeting will be at Morphettville on June 28. He then flies to Mauritius on July 4.
manyan@sph.com.sg
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