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Brazilian rider Leo Salles stole the show at Taipa last Friday night with a sparkling three timer on the sand to take him to a clear third on the rider’s standings.

Salles was straight into the swing of things when he came with a late lunge on Hostwin Treasure to snatch victory in the first of the night the Class 5 & 6 over 1350 metres.

Prepared by Tony Fung, Hostwin Treasure had a neck to spare over Smart Ebony (Peter Ho), with Glory Moment (Charles Perkins) in third.

Salles had to wait until race five for his second win of the night on the Alan Tam trained Central Station, who made it win number four on the all weather surface, and again with a last stride win.

Central Station stretched late to nail Firedragon Cthulhu (Andrew Calder) by a short head in the Class 2 over 1050 metres, with King Achilles back in third.

A son of Manhattan Rain Central Station commenced his racing career in Victoria with Team Hawkes where he raced on four occasions notching up four third placed efforts around the provincial circuit.

The gelding has shown a real liking for the Macau sand track and after Friday night’s win is nudging the $1 million mark for connections.

Leo Salles rounded out his night when the Louis Ho trained My Masterpiece powered away from his rivals for a big win in the last of the night the Class 3 over 1500 metres.

My Masterpiece is a US-bred galloper that was imported to Macau from the UK where he raced as Idea. The gelding won on the all-weather at Kempton and also on the turf at Windsor when prepared by Sir Michael Stoute.

Salles is in his first full season at the MJC having arrived in January last year.

His tally for his first seven months in Macau was a creditable 22 winners even after time out with careless riding suspensions.

The weekend didn’t end there for Salles with the likable young rider booting home a winner at Sha Tin on Sunday on Energetic Class for Michael Chang in the Class 4 over 1600 metres.

In a thrilling finish Salles outgunned fellow countryman Joao Moreira by a short head in what could be a defining moment for the young man who is only 22 years of age.

Salles arrived in Macau with close to 500 winners under his belt and like most of the Brazilian riders that we have seen come to Asia has continued to improve his riding game.

With a bit more experience under his belt perhaps a stint in Hong Kong at some time may not be out of the question.

Salles has now built up some solid support from most of the leading stables in Macau and like Peter Ho is capable of giving Luis Corrales a run for his money in the jockeys’ championships.

The trick for him will be keeping out of the steward’s room, as like Peter Ho his will to win has seen him lose valuable time on the sidelines in contrast to Corrales whose record on careless riding is one of the best in the enclave.

• TRAINER KC Paul Wong has a smart galloper on his hands with the New Zealand import Speed On who simply destroyed his rivals in the Class 3 & 4 over 1050 metres.

Ridden by Peter Ho, Speed On was never off the bridle in the run sitting off the leader Power Sequalo (Olivier Doleuze) before Ho cut loose in the straight to race away for a huge win.

Speed On came to Macau with some decent form out of New Zealand with a win and two placed efforts from his eight runs when he raced there as Hapi Assassin.

Trained at Ruakaka by Kenny and Lisa Rae, Hapi Assassin also turned in a nice fourth at Listed level.

Whilst his form stacks up well on the turf the son of Coats Choice seemed to relish the Macau sand and the manner in which he won and time on the night suggest his is on a fast track to the top ranks.

Peter Ho currently sits in second spot in the rider’s standings on 27 wins four in arrears to Luis Corrales who is on 31.

Filipino rider Breinell Yamzon made a welcome return to the winners circle when My Cup Of Tea saluted in the Class 4 over 1350 metres.

My Cup Of Tea made it win number seven at the distance and gave Yamzon his first winner since mid December.

In fairness the bulk of that time was spent by Yamzon on the sidelines with suspension and the win on My Cup Of Tea will be just the confidence booster he needed to get him back on track.

My Cup Of Tea is prepared by former two time champion trainer K H Leong who posted win number 14 for the season and sits in third spot on the trainer’s ladder.

First season trainer Sio Hun Cheong leads the charge with 23 victories from K S (Danny) Wong who is on 17 wins.