3 minute read

Macau Derby winner The Alfonso has caused a major upset fresh up by winning the G3 Macau Sprint Trophy over 1000 metres on Sunday’s mixed turf and sand race card at Taipa.

Ridden Andrew Calder, The Alfonso came from a long second last on the turn to power home under Calder to snatch victory in the last stride from River Bo Bo (Luis Corrales) by a short head, with Healthy Life (Peter Ho) a head away in third.

A son of the group winning sire Magnus, The Alfonso was first up since running third in the Macau Gold Cup over 1800 metres in July, following his dominant win in the SJM Macau Derby over the same trip back in April.

The Alfonso looked magnificent in the paddock parade Sunday with trainer Joe Lau expecting the gelding to run well, but had not considered him a real winning chance over the 1000 metres.

“If the race was over 1200 yes I would have said he would be right there, but this year the race was bought back to 1000 metres. I was thinking he would be running home well for maybe a nice fourth or fifth spot.” Joe Lau said.

“I was really pleased with him coming into the race he was a very happy horse. But he has never won first up in his life even with Chris Waller in Australia.”

“They went very hard and that really helped, he is a class horse and Andrew (Calder) rode him a treat.”

For winning jockey Andrew Calder the win was also pleasant surprise with the New Zealander stating that he was never confident in the run until the last two hundred metres.

“They ran him off his legs early and then it was only about the four hundred that he started to balance up but I still thought we were too far back.”

“He really got into his stride the last two hundred but I thought we might have left it a touch late.” Calder said.

“He has come back bigger and stronger after the spell so he should have a great season.”

The Alfonso became the first horse in the history of the MJC to win a Derby and a Macau Sprint in the same year, a feat that will most likely remain unparalleled given the vast range in trip from the Derby’s 1800 metres to Sunday’s 1000 metre dash

Geoff Allendorf’s Lucky And Wealthy has been the only other horse to win both races but two years apart, and at the old sprint distance of 1200 metres, and was aided no doubt by a very track in the sprint.

Joe Lau has penciled in the Hong Kong – Macau Trophy at Sha Tin early next year as his main mission with the gelding but will be guided by the horse.

“There is a couple of more races for him here and then we will take it from there.” Lau said.

Second placed River Bo Bo did a super job from gate 11 after being never better then four deep the trip, and again underlined his quality as a racehorse on any surface and distance.

Trainer Sio Hun Cheong will now aim the four year at the Classics with the Derby Trial and the Group 1 Guineas (1500) high on his agenda.

Sio Cheong did not go home empty handed on the day and struck back in the very next race, winning the days feature the Group 2 Autumn Trophy over 1600 metres on the sand with the exciting galloper Sandtop, who charged out of the pack late to win the 15th running of the event.

Given a perfect ride by Peter Ho who saved a stack of ground by riding rail from the seven hundred , Sandtop hit the line hard to beat the race favorite Pak Lok Angel (Ronnie Stewart) by a half length with Sheng Li Win (Luis Corrales) three quarters away in third.

Sandtop has now won five of his last six starts and the son of Henrythenavigator appears as the complete racehorse with wins on the turf and sand and on any type of track condition.

The SJM Derby next April will be his main mission and gelding is already proven over the 1800 metres.

Peter Ho had a real harvest over the weekends racing winning five races in total with two on Friday night and another three on Sunday.

Ho now leads Cash Wong with 14 wins to 10 with Leo Salles in third spot on 8.