Magnate rakes in the cash
Macau Derby (Listed, 1800m) winner Sacred Magnate (Foxwedge) has returned victorious following a major setback four weeks ago, when he was withdrawn as favourite in a strong Class 2.
Sacred Magnate gave Macau’s Derby king Joe Lau his fourth Derby victory when he scored a last stride win over Star of Yiu Cheung (Casino Prince) last July. In typical Lau fashion, the son of Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) was immediately sent for a spell. The gelding did not return to the racetrack until five months later when he ran fifth, beaten three and a half lengths by Gon Sai Baau (Smart Missile) over 1200 metres on February 2.
The run was to be the perfect pipe opener for his next assignment on February 27, until lameness forced his late withdrawal.
“It wasn’t anything major, just a little soreness that he pulled up with after his final gallop before that race.” Lau said. “We were in no rush so you don’t even take a risk, I just rested him.”
In a pre-race interview before Saturday, Lau mentioned the gelding had missed some work leading up to the race, but added that he was a clean winded horse and he fully expected him to go well before saying “whatever he does Saturday he will improve on”.
Sent out a $4.00 favourite, Sacred Magnate was bounced out of gate six by his Derby-winning jockey Stephane Ladjadj to share the speed with Electroplate Alloy (Golden Archer) and Oneofthegreats (Snitzel). At the first corner he let the leaders go and slotted back with the run of the race in fourth spot.
In the home straight, Electroplate Alloy darted away and looked to have stolen the race before Sacred Magnate unleashed a dazzling turn of foot to run away for an easy four and a quarter length win.
“That was impressive, Stephane (Ladjadj) gave him a beautiful ride, put him in a great spot and the horse did the rest,” Lau said.
“It’s bad luck that the Covid virus has hit us. In a normal year he would be the perfect horse for the Hong Kong Macau Trophy, and like Sacred Capital (O’Reilly) he would be worthy of a tilt at a Group 3 in Hong Kong.
“In the meantime, we will just look at our local races and go from there. He still has a lot of upside to him, this horse.”
Sacred Magnate was originally a AU$155,000 purchase at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and was placed with Leon and Troy Corstens at Flemington. From his six runs in Victoria he was only out of the money twice, with a win at Yarra Valley and a close fifth in the C S Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington.
The gelding was then purchased by Macau owner Mr. Eric Chen Ching Lung with the Derby in mind. In his seven runs in the enclave the gelding has won two races, and is already nudging the $1.5 million HKD mark in prize money.
Draft Camp (Dream Ahead) was another horse on Saturday that overcame an injury scare to score a brilliant win in the second division of the Class 3 (1200 metres) under Luis Corrales.
Prepared by Geoff Allendorf, Draft Camp succumbed to stone bruise on his near fore hoof early in the week and a start on Saturday was looking unlikely, right up until the eve of the race.
“It was a bit of bad luck that happened, but full marks to my farrier and the vet staff for their help in getting him to the races. He was always going to take plenty of beating and Luis gave him a lovely ride,” Allendorf said.
In a race run at hot speed with Roaring Fans (Nicconi) and Lucky Gold (Captain Rio) setting the tempo, Draft Camp was spotting the leaders ten lengths at the 600-metre point. Once in the straight, the gelding produced a dynamic burst to fly down the outside and win going away by nearly two lengths over Pursuing Eagle (Holy Roman Emperor), with Heartgoodallwell (Sebring) in third.
The five-year-old’s time of 1.08.9s was .03s faster than the first division, won by Gorgeous Bomb (All Too Hard).
Draft Camp has now had 14 runs in Macau for four wins and five placings and has amassed close to $750,000 in prize money.
Luis Corrales made it a double for the afternoon with Danny Wong’s New Zealand import Gorgeous Bomb, who led throughout from his outside gate in an eye-catching performance.
Gorgeous Bomb had originally raced in New Zealand as Copper Mine, where he won two races and placed second twice from his ten runs for trainer Catherine Cameron. He has now won three races in Macau for new owner Mr. John Ma Hung Ming.
Ricky Choi and Peter Ho combined for a double on Saturday’s card with Fortune Lady (Sepoy) in the Class 6 (1500m), and Sport General (Toronado) in the 4 & 5 over 1200 metres.
Fortune Lady is one of very few mares racing in the enclave and only goes to scale at 970 pounds, but that did not stop the diminutive galloper from powering home through the pack to win well over Wing Wo (Golden Archer), with General Fu Hao (Eurozone) in third.
Choi and Ho combined again with Sport General to take out the last of the day, when he burst through late along the inside to snatch victory right on the line over Kelvin’s Choice (Snitzel), with Yings Fans (Thewayyouare) in third.
Sport General took 13 starts to break his maiden status a fortnight back with Ho on top, and has now won two on the hop. After a frustrating run of six placings last season the chestnut has come back a much stronger four-year-old, and will continue to pay his way in the low to mid-grade races.