Champion trainer Gary Moore started the Chinese New Year off with a bang leading in three winners on Saturday’s big Lunar New Year race-day including one of the features the Listed Lisboa Prelude.
Photo by Press Photo
Moore’s promising three year old The Star of Geely stretched late under Brazilian rider Fausto Durso to snatch victory and wrap up a big start to the Year Of The Snake for the leading stable.
The Star Of Geely a son of the USA stallion Henny Hughes was given a perfect ride by Durso and was able to grab pacemaker and equal favorite Sunshine Champion (Louis Corrales) right on the wire with Sunshine Energy (Luis Jurado) running home into third.
“It’s been a great day, a wonderful start to the Chinese New Year, this day is very special for the Chinese people.” Moore said.
“He’s a really nice young horse on the way up The Star Of Geely and of course we were favored greatly by the weight scale of the Lisboa.”
“I only had to give the second horse three pounds when in reality I should have been giving him a stone.”
“Now it’s onto the next heat of the Series and the extra 100 metres suits us even better.”
Moore had started the day well when Hostwin Champion took out the second of the day the Happiness Handicap over 1500 metres under Steven Choi.
Hostwin Champion looked well graded back to Class 3 & 4 and under a nice ride held on to beat Mission Fame (Fausto Durso) by a neck, with the heavily backed Monster (Peter Ho) in third.
Former top three year old of his year Oriental Taste was the second of Moore’s winners when he also scored a last stride win in the Good Fortune Handicap over 1200 metres.
With Fausto Durso again on top Oriental Taste prevailed in a thrilling finish by a short head over The Lucky Steed (Andy Helfenbein), with Turquoise Profit (Charles Perkins) flashing home for third.
Both Oriental Taste and The Star Of Geely are raced by owner Mr. Gui Sheng Yu with both horses purchased for him by the Moore Family.
Oriental Taste was having only his second run since June last year which added more merit to the win with Moore adamant that there is plenty more improvement forthcoming.
“My main aim for Oriental Taste has always been the Grand Lisboa on Derby day a Group 3 race,”
“He is still a bit dull in the coat and will come on plenty after Saturday’s win.”
A son of Dubleo (USA), Oriental Taste was the gun three year old of the 2010 – 2011 season before succumbing to chips in both knees.
Saturday’s victory was his second win since his knee operation some 18 months ago.
It was big day also for Fausto Durso who later won the last of the evening The Good Year Handicap on Diamond Whirlwind for trainer Pat Lee giving Durso a treble for the day.
