Newcomers Give Danny Wong a Double
Trainer Danny Wong has his hands on two nice newcomers in Number Zero (Showcasing) and Beautiful Eighteen (Epaulette) who both scored impressive wins on Saturday’s turf racecard.
Number Zero was the first of Wong’s winners when he hit the line strongly under five pound claimer Eric Cheung to race away with the Class 4 over 1500 metres, paying a whopping $1773.50 for the win.
It was only the second start for the four year old son of Showcasing (Oasis Dream), whose only run prior was over 1200 metres on a very soft track where he endured a very wide run and was beaten by ten lengths.
Friendless in the betting on Saturday and on a good track, Number Zero was put into a beautiful spot fifth the rail by Eric Cheung where he traveled well in the run. Approaching the home corner Cheung popped Number Zero off the back of the tiring Qipao Queen (Love Conquers All) into space, and once in the straight he finished hard between Star Of Phoenix (Commands) and Sky Dragon (Glass Harmonium) to race clear for a comfortable win.
“The horse was not that strong when he first arrived last October. After his first start in March I gave him a break and that helped a lot as he is now a lot stronger. The good draw and the good ride helped him a lot too.” Wong said.
“He was passed in at the Karaka May Sale and after trailed ok in New Zealand with a second place at Avondale, I bought him for not a lot of money and looking at the time he ran on Saturday 1.27.7 which was faster than my Class 2 winner, he might end up a bargain buy.”
Beautiful Eighteen was the second of Wong’s winners when he shrugged off his wide gate of barrier 12 to knock off a pretty handy Class 2 field over 1500 metres.
Ridden by underrated rider C F (Charlie) Chan, Beautiful Eighteen was fired out of the gates by Chan to be on the speed three deep before easing to be third the rail in the run. Once heads were turned for home, Chan peeled off the back of the leaders and set Beautiful Eighteen alight with the four year old son of Epaulette (Commands) bursting away for a strong win.
Danny Wong will now set Beautiful Eighteen for the Macau Derby Trial (Listed, 1500m) on May 15 with his long range plan the Macau Derby (Listed, 1800m) on July 19.
Beautiful Eighteen was originally a A$60,000 purchase at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales by B2B Bloodstock.
The gelding won a 3YO Maiden at Sandown over 1300 metres when raced in a syndicate headed by the B2B Thoroughbreds Group and was prepared by Chris Waller.
Wayne Smith was another trainer that also led in a winning double with two highly promising first season gallopers in Star of Yiu Cheung (Casino Prince) and Chi Chai Sing Sang (Per Incanto).
Star of Yiu Cheung made it three wins and two seconds from only five starts when he set a new class record of 1.08.1 in the Class 3 over 1200 metres under regular rider Horace Lam.
Star of Yiu Cheung enjoyed the run of the race in third before going home right over the top of the Danny Wong-prepared Gem Glory (I Am Invincible)) denying Danny Wong a treble for the afternoon.
In the very next race, Chi Chai Sin Sang equaled the Class record under Luis Corrales in the Class 5 & 6 over 1200 metres to give Smith his double for the day and Corrales the second leg of a winning treble.
Chi Chai Sin Sang clocked 1.09.3 in winning and the easy manner in which he scored will see him go on to better things.
Crown Of Gold (Duporth) is another nice four-year-old going places following his win in the last race of the day, the second Division of the Class 4 over 1500 metres.
Prepared by Joe Lau and ridden by Luis Corrales, Crown Of Gold made two wins on end both at the 1500-metre distance and is another that will be eying the Derby Trial on May 15.
Crown Of Gold was originally purchased by Victoria Peak Bloodstock at the 2017 Karaka Ready To Run Sales. Placed in the care of Aquis Farm and registered as The Romanian, the gelding won a Gold Coast barrier trial in good fashion back in December 2018 prior to being exported to Macau.
The victory by Crown of Gold gave Luis Corrales three for the day and took him to equal first spot in the Jockeys Premiership with Roger Yu on 28 wins.