Moore Winners for Nick and Corrales
The successful combination of trainer Nick Moore and jockey Luis Corrales continued on their winning way with a double on Friday night’s turf and sand program.
The duo, who have become a formidable combination this season, kicked their night off with the win of Hostwin Jupiter (Testa Rossa) who scored his maiden victory in the Class 4 & 5 over 1500 metres.
The three-year-old was having his fourth race start and had put the writing on the wall with an improved effort in his latest run over 1500 metres (turf), after two average performances on the sand.
Put into a nice spot in fifth on the rails by Corrales, Hostwin Jupiter was momentarily held up rounding the home turn on the back of the tiring leader River Applause (Hidden Dragon) who was giving ground. Corrales bided his time and weaved between runners, darting back to the inside before finding clear running. The gelding showed a quick turn of foot to burst to the lead, and had enough in reserve to stave off the late challenge by Turquoise Square (Eurozone), with Oh So Easy (Snippetson) in third.
Hostwin Jupiter was an $52,500 purchase for owner Jason Tam at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. The bay is a full brother to Diamond Stellar, an impressive winner of two races in Macau who coincidentally ran in the same race Friday night. Well supported at $40.00 for the win, Diamond Stellar was no match for his younger brother and after travelling just off the speed, weakened to finish fifth beaten four and a half lengths.
Hostwin Poseidon (Dream Ahead) also raced by Tam, gave Moore and Corrales their double when he shrugged off a wide run in transit to race away with the Class 3 & 4 over 1050 metres later in the night.
It was win number four for Hostwin Poseidon from only seven starts, and like Hostwin Jupiter he is a product of the Magic Millions, having come out of the 2019 Gold Coast 2YOs in Training sale where he was an $85,000 buy.
After the race a relieved Moore said: “He done it real tough and I didn’t think he could win at the 400, he was still five deep. But he knows how to find that extra gear and he has matured into a cracking colt.”
“Hostwin Jupiter the penny finally dropped; but he was always going to be a horse that needed to mature and need ground.”
Corrales had a great association with Moore’s father Gary who was Champion Macau Trainer on eight occasions. Nick was assistant trainer to his father for many years, so it was no surprise when Nick commenced his training career, he went seeking the services of the five times champion rider.
It was Corrales that provided Nick with his first winner Sport Genius (Ocean Park) in February of this year, and Corrales also rode successfully for Nick’s younger brother James while he was training in Macau.
In 12 rides for the stable this season, Corrales has won six races for the yard, and placed second on one occasion.
The ultra-consistent Partners’ Fortune (Better Than Ready) made it win number five in the enclave with a gutsy effort from gate 11 to take out the Class 3 & 4 over 1200 metres under Peter Ho.
Set alight by Ho out of the gates, Partners’ Fortune crossed and led before Ho eased the tempo. Newcomer Guillocharm (Guillotine) then took up the running with the eventual winner on his back. Once in the straight Ho sent the four-year-old out after the leader with race favorite Electroplate Alloy (Golden Archer), right on his tail. The two best bet runners in the race singled out in the run to the line, and it was simply a bob of the heads on the wire with Partners’ Fortune winning by a nose over Electroplate Alloy.
Prepared by Patrick Lee, Partners’ Fortune has been a nice buy for owners Chan Ho Man and Cheng Wing Bor. The gelding was purchased for $68,000 at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, and has now posted five wins, two placings, and three unplaced efforts from his ten runs to date.
Goal Achiever (Star Witness) is another progressive type that keeps lifting the bar with the gelding making it two wins from his last three runs in the Class 4 & 5 over 1500 metres under Eric Cheung.
The Stanley Chin-prepared galloper was given a lovely ride by Cheung who found a nice spot midfield from barrier nine. Improving gradually before the bend, the four-year-old let down nicely when called upon to race clear late and win by three-quarters of a length from Ronson (Eurozone), with Die Casting Alloy (Dream Ahead) in third.
The win was not without its drama however with Ronson’s rider Peter Ho firing in an objection citing interference over the final 150 metres.
During the course of the enquiry the MJC stewards panel chaired by Australian Zane Turner, established that near the 150 metres Ronson was obliged to alter course outwards from the heels of Goal Achiever, who shifted out under pressure. After considering all of the evidence, and taking into account the beaten margin of three-quarters of a length, stewards dismissed the objection.
Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Hamel is expected to be sidelined for up to three months after being dislodged from Pride Mountain (Warhorse) on the way to the gates in race one Friday night.
Hamel, who was on ten winners and in equal fourth spot in the jockeys’ standings, is awaiting confirmation on further x-rays, but is believed to have suffered a fracture of his lower back.