Sheng Li Stars in Spring Trophy
Sheng Li Superstar (Harbour Watch) lived right up to his name with a brave front running effort to win his first Group race in Macau in taking out Sunday’s Spring Trophy (Listed, 1500m).
Sheng Li Superstar was fired out of the gates by Luis Corrales who quickly showed his rival jockeys he was intent on leading; with Lover Paradise (Canford Cliffs) surrendering the front Corrales was then able to steady the speed in the back and take control of the race.
Race favorite Pearl Green (Fastnet Rock) was always handy in second spot under Fausto Henrique and came to win the race soon after straightening, however Sheng Li Superstar showed great tenacity to fight back after being headed to prevail on the line by a head from Pearl Green, with Bring Me Speed (Sebring) three quarters of a length away in third.
Prepared nowadays by Stanley Chin, Sheng Li Superstar made it win number seven in Macau with five minor placings from his 15 runs, and lifted his prize money to over HK$2 million.
A son of the unbeaten Harbour Watch (Acclamation), Sheng Li Superstar was formerly trained in Victoria by Henry Dwyer where he won a Geelong Maiden on the all weather track by six lengths from four runs in Australia.
The now five-year-old has been a real bargain for his owner Mr. Frank Wong with four brilliant wins on the sand, and now three on the turf in distances from 1050 metres to Sunday’s 1500-metre event.
The win gave Panamanian born Luis Corrales a treble for the afternoon in taking out the first three races.
Corrales won the first of the day the Class 5 & 6 over 1500 metres on Peter Leyshan’s promising three year old King Of Champions (Foxwedge), who donkey licked his opponents to win by three and three-quarter lengths.
Rivalry (Pierro) from the Victor Chan stable was the second winner for Corrales, when he did a good job from barrier nine to worry pace-maker Thar (Exceed And Excel) out of victory in the Class 2 & 3 over 1200 metres.
After Sunday’s treble, Corrales, a former four time Champion jockey in Macau, is in equal first spot with Roger Yu on 23 wins. Brazilian Fausto Henrique is in third spot on 20, with Frenchman J B Hamel in fourth on 19 victories.
No jockey has been riding better in recent weeks then Frenchman J B Hamel who booted home another winning double on Sunday’s racecard.
Hamel pulled off a surprise win on the $181.00 longshot Gorgeous Bomb (All Too Hard) who scored an easy victory in the Class 2 & 3 over 1200 metres.
Prepared by Danny Wong, Gorgeous Bomb beat Electroplate Alloy (Golden Archer); with Draft Camp (Dream Ahead), who was shooting for four straight victories, close up in third.
Gorgeous Bomb is a former New Zealand galloper that raced there as Copper Mine when trained at Cambridge by Catherine Cameron. Copper Mine won two of his ten runs in New Zealand at Ruakaka and Te Rapa, both at 1200 metres, and placed second on two more occasions.
Sundays win and his run time suggest the son of All Too Hard (Casino Prince) will more than pay his way in Macau.
Association One (Red Jazz) from the Stanley Chin yard gave Hamel his second win for the day when he produced a perfect ride to win the Class 3 & 4 over 1800 metres.
Irish bred Association One was having his seventh run in Macau but was for Sunday’s race stepping up to a suitable distance for the first time. The gelding had raced in the UK under the name of New Orleans where he had 13 runs for a win at Wolverhampton and placed on five other occasions.
Hamel enjoyed his biggest day in Macau with a four timer on February 22 and followed that up with another four winners over the 6th and 7th weekend race meetings.
Mission Dragon (Reliable Man) was another good winner on Sunday when he raced away for a big win in the Class 5 & 6 over 1200 metres under Fausto Henrique.
Trained by Patrick Lee, Mission Dragon ended up in the box seat in transit before powering away from his rivals over the last two hundred to win handsomely.
Mission Dragon was a NZ$60,000 purchase at the 2018 Karaka Ready To Run Sale and judging by his easy victory Sunday, will certainly pay his way in Macau.