3 minute read

Macau’s latest rising star River Bo Bo made it five wins from six starts with a strong win in the Association Of Macau Racing Journalists Cup over 1500 metres on the turf at Taipa on Saturday.

Ridden by champion jockey Luis Corrales, River Bo Bo showed his talents were not just confined to the sand surface with brilliant display of speed from his wide gate to be on the lead, and then showed great courage over the last two hundred to hold on and narrowly beat Sunshine Full Life, with Elderly Paradise close up in third.

A son of Elusive City from the Jungle Pocket mare Swiftsure, River Bo Bo remains unbeaten in four starts on the all weather with his only defeat to date coming in the Listed Lisboa Stakes on the turf over 1400 metres behind Bo Bo So Cute where he finished a close fourth.

On that occasion the gelding raced much too keenly for his own good, however it was a more professional River Bo Bo that we seen on Saturday who after showing his dazzling turn of foot out of the gates to share the lead with Valiant Soldier, switched off under Corrales to box seat in third with the run of the race.

Sunshine Full Life who was given a perfect ride by Peter Ho from barrier 12 to end up fifth the rail and stalking River Bo Bo, loomed large as the main threat before Macau’s former Horse Of The Year Elderly Paradise sprinted quickly down the outside under Ronnie Stewart to give his supporters a thrill at a big price.

But in the end River Bo Bo simply refused to surrender with the margin at the line a neck by a neck.

River Bo Bo is trained by first season trainer Sio Hun Cheong who has created a huge impression in the enclave with 21 winners under his belt since he was licensed in his own right on March 1st.

The gelding is raced by Macau’s biggest owner King Ho and now that he has proven himself on the turf will be aimed at the Four Year Old Classics early next year.