Corrales stars with weekend five-timer
Luis Corrales is really giving his rivals something to chase after a brilliant weekend of riding, notching five winners and stretching his lead to seven wins (38 to 31) over Eric Cheung in the Jockeys’ Premiership race.
Corrales, who is shooting for his sixth Macau Championship title, was in dashing form on the sand on Friday night with three winners, before capping the weekend off with another two on the turf on Saturday.
Shooting To Pins (Pins) was the first of Corrales’ winners Friday night when he came with a late surge through the centre of the pack to win the Class 6 (1350m) for trainer Rambo Tse.
Two races later, Corrales made it back-to-back wins with Sheng Li Superstar (Harbour Watch), who scored his tenth win in the enclave with a sterling performance in the Class 1 & 2 (1510m).
Prepared by Stanley Chin, Sheng Li Superstar arrived in Macau on a rating of 65, and after eight wins was considered one of Macau’s finest, having taken himself to a mark of 123. The six-year-old bay then put in two out-of-character performances late last year, resulting in him being spelled.
“He has never had any health issues and is a very easy horse to train. He just simply peaked after a year of first-class performances and eight wins, and he just lost interest.
“We gave him a few months off, and he has come back fresh and as good as ever to win two races straight. We are very proud of him; he has won ten races now from 1050 to 1510 metres on the sand, and a win in the Spring Trophy on the turf.”
Sheng Li Superstar is a former Qatar Bloodstock galloper who raced in Victoria as Westerly Wind, when trained by Henry Dwyer. The son of the unbeaten Harbour Watch (Acclamation) (who stood at Tweenhills Stud in Britain and shuttled to Emirates Park in Australia prior to his retirement in 2017) won a Geelong maiden by six lengths, and placed twice more from only four starts before being sold to Macau owner Mr. Frank Wong. His record in the enclave now reads ten wins, two seconds and three thirds from 26 starts.
Tuhao Choice (Jakkalberry) from the Sio Cheong yard capped off Corrales’ night when he put his nose down right on the line to snatch victory from Rose Hero (Snitzel) in a cracking finish in the Class 3 (1350m).
On Saturday, Circuit Miles (Fastnet Rock) from the Nick Moore yard gave the Panamanian rider his fourth winner for the weekend, when he sprinted away from his rivals in the Class 3 & 4 (1800m).
Circuit Miles is a former Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper that raced in Australia as Hey Mighty. Purchased for AU$500,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the son of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) won a two-year-old maiden at Kembla Grange before campaigning in Victoria, where he managed to place second over 1600 metres at Sandown. The gelding was then sold through the 2020 Inglis Digital April Sale for AU$85,000 to owner Mr. Ngo Tai Tak.
Saturday’s win was impressive and there is more in store for the four-year-old bay, with connections no doubt eying up a Derby start.
Victor Chan Chun Fai’s Rivalry (Pierro) rounded out Corrales’ weekend when he burst out of the pack late to win the Class 4 (1200m), making it five winners over the two days for the jockey.
Trainer Geoff Allendorf was also in the winner’s circle on Saturday, picking up a double with Luen On Poseidon (Pierro) and Turquoise Success (All Too Hard).
Luen On Poseidon scored his fifth win in Macau when he produced a powerful finishing burst under Brazilian rider Fausto Henrique to win the Class 2 (1200m).
Allendorf went within a nose of landing the quinella with his other runner Oneofthegreats (Snitzel) just being edged out of second by Destiny’s Choice (Sepoy).
Turquoise Success gave Allendorf his double for the day when he led throughout under Japanese rider Masa Tanaka to win the Class 4 & 5 (1500m).
Turquoise Success has always worked and trialed like a high-class performer but had been a disappointment come raceday, often going too far hard in his races, and was still a maiden after 12 starts.
In a bold move, Allendorf stepped the son of All Too Hard (Casino Prince) up to 1500 metres, and while still racing fiercely, he was able to hold on and win. Next up he was just caught late after over racing again at the 1500 metres. Saturday though was a different story with the four-year-old relaxing a lot better under Tanaka, and he was able to race away to win by four and three-quarter lengths at the line.
Masa Tanaka enjoyed a good weekend winning four races to take him to 26 winners for the season and third spot on the rider standings.
Tanaka won the last on Friday night, the Class 3 & 4 (1050m), on Stadium (Redwood), prepared by the combined stable of Tommy Tse and Louis Ho.
On Saturday Tanaka struck early, winning the first of the day, the Class 6 (1200m), on House Of Power (Niagara) for trainer Stephen Chow. Eclair Boom (Spirit Of Boom) from the Peter Leyshan yard was the next winner for Tanaka, after he gave the Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo) gelding a lovely front-running ride in the first division of the Class 4 & 5 (1500m). Tanaka notched up his treble for the day with another perfectly-timed ride on Turquoise Success.
Tanaka has been the noticeable improver this season and has been steadily climbing up the jockey’s ladder having won 19 races since January.