Moore aiming high with Saturn
A runaway win by Hostwin Saturn (Stratum) in Saturday’s Class 2 & 3 Handicap (1800m) has elevated the four-year-old to clear cut favoritism for the Macau Derby (Listed, 1800m), set for July 19.
Prepared by first-season trainer Nick Moore, son of Macau’s former champion trainer Gary, Hostwin Saturn simply destroyed his opponents in a brilliant display of speed and stamina under French rider J B Hamel, winning easily over the Derby track and trip in a slick 1:47.5. The Derby record is 1:47 flat, held jointly by The Alfonso (Magnus) and Sacred Capital (O’Reilly).
For a first season trainer to win Macau’s greatest race, the Derby, would be an outstanding achievement, however it is a plan that Nick Moore set in motion at the beginning of the season.
“I’ve always had this feeling that he was going to turn into a Derby prospect. I took him to the races at Hawkesbury back in August when I was working for Dad. He ran a big race that day over 1800 metres only beaten three-quarters of a length,” Moore said.
“He’s the perfect horse for Macau, I threw everything at him and he just kept muscling up and never leaves an oat.”
Hostwin Saturn was a $240,000 purchase at the 2017 Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale by owner Jason Tam.
“I fell in love with the horse because he reminded me of Viva Pronto with the star on his forehead. Viva Pronto was one of Dad’s outstanding horses; he even won a Group 3 in Hong Kong,” Moore said. “He was doing a lot wrong in his races in Australia by overracing. J B told me, ‘If I take him to the front, he will switch off and prick his ears,’ and he did just that.”
“It would be an amazing story if I can win the Derby for Mr Tam. He’s been such a big supporter and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him getting me up and going.”
Tam also has another rising star that could make the Derby cut in Hostwin Epanoui (More Than Ready) who overcame difficulties to score an impressive victory on Friday night in the Class 2 & 3 (1500m) on turf.
Prepared by Tony Fung and ridden by apprentice Eric Cheung, Hostwin Epanoui walked out of the gates giving the leaders a good six lengths start. Showing great patience, young Cheung tacked onto the field and gradually improved against the rail to be midfield at the 600 metres
Railing up behind race favourites Winnie Star (Medaglia d’Oro) and Draft Camp (Dream Ahead) rounding the turn, Hostwin Epanoui sprinted quickly when an opening came and raced away for an impressive win.
Hostwin Epanoui was also an expensive purchase being knocked down to Tam and Gary Moore for $200,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales.
It’s been a long hard road back for former top jockey Peter Lao but finally, after 69 rides since returning to the saddle last December, he gave a perfect exhibition of front-running riding to guide the 73-1 pop Infinite Treasure (Captain Rio) to victory in Saturday’s Class 6 over 1500 metres.
Lao set the Rambo Tse-prepared gelding alight from gate eight and soon took up the running; rated perfectly, he gave a nice kick off the corner and with Lao looking a picture of poise and balance as he wielded the whip, Infinite Treasure raced away for convincing win.
Once an idol of Macau racing as an apprentice with Darby Armstrong, Lao then successfully plied his trade in Singapore and had great success there, winning a Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Listed, 2000m) and the Raffles Cup (Listed, 1600m), both aboard Emerald Isles (Shaadi). Other major wins followed like the Kranji Mile (Listed, 1600m) on Pacific Prince (Sky Filou) and the Patron’s Bowl (Listed, 1400m) on Bon Amie (Fairy King) before a shoulder injury in a race fall forced Lao to hang up his boots in 2008.
Lao made a comeback in 2013 and eventually moved back to Macau in 2016. Frustrated by lack of opportunity, Lao again quit riding, but the racing bug is a hard one to shake and at the beginning of last season Lao found himself back riding trackwork.
Weight is still not an issue with Lao being able to ride at 118 pounds and, whilst the stats don’t read well, he has not had much in the way of talent to sit on since his return. However, he is riding with all the confidence and judgment that made him a leading name in Macau in the 1990s and the early years of the 2000s.
Joe Lau was back in the winner’s circle with an impressive winning double on Saturday’s turf card with Crown Of Gold (Duporth) and Heartgoodallwell (Sebring).
Crown Of Gold looked super in racing away with the Class 4 over 1500 metres under jockey Luis Corrales. The four-year-old had shown ability in three previous runs with two nice placings on the sand; however, Saturday was his first tilt at the 1500-metre journey. The easy manner of his victory and the time suggests better days ahead.
Heartgoodallwell was the second of Lau’s winners when he literally jumped out of the ground late to win the last of the day, the Class 3 & 4 over 1200 metres under Charlie Chan.
In a race run at cracking speed, Heartgoodallwell was a mile back early and still spotting them eight lengths coming to the corner. Chan had to weave a path between runners to get clear running before the gelding sprouted wings over the final 100 metres to win clearly on the line by two lengths from Rivalry (Pierro), with You And You Alone (Love Conquers All) a head away third.