Lucky And Wealthy burst back into Macau Derby contention with a brilliant all the way win in Saturday’s Four Year Old Prelude over 1500m at Taipa.

Given a perfect ride off the front by German rider Andy Helfenbein, Lucky And Wealthy raced away from his rivals over the last two hundred to win by easily from Hostwin Challenge (Steven Choi), with Smiling Happy under Louis Corrales flying home late for third.

Lucky And Wealthy has been the forgotten horse lately among the Derby contenders but not all luck as gone the way of the gelding in recent times according to trainer Geoff Allendorf.

“We were trying to get him to settle in his races lately with the 1800 of the Derby in mind and not much has gone right for him.” Allendorf said.

“Three starts back the draw went against him and last start he wanted to over-race early then didn’t get a clear crack at them in the straight.

“Looking at today’s race I told Andy (Helfenbein) to ride him out of the gates to lead, but I would be happy enough if the speed was on to be running second or third. He rode the horse a treat.”

Lucky And Wealthy has won eight races and placed second on four other occasions from his 18 starts for owner Cheung Pik Fong and netted over HKD $1.7 million in prize-money to date.

Being by the former smart Australian sprinter Strada, the 1800 metres of the Derby does pose a question mark, but his dam Star Above is a daughter of Zabeel so there is stamina on that side.

“I’ve always thought he would get a strong 1500 metres and he proved that today the way he ran away from them.”

“The Derby is another thing but the way he won you would think he is going to be there for a long way.” Allendorf added.

“The Guineas is his next mission he we will go on from there.”

The win by Lucky And Wealthy made it a winning double for Allendorf with his promising youngster Captain Sunshine romping home in the 3 & 4 year old handicap over 1200 metres early in the day.

This years crop of four year olds is shaping up as one of the best ever with anyone of seven or eight horses capable of winning the Guineas or Derby.

Joe Lau’s Smiling Happy caught the eye with good late progress in the Prelude, while Hostwin Challenge from the Gary Moore yard stayed on well and will no doubt run out the Derby trip.

Moore’s US import Brother Francis who disappointed in the Prelude after being sent out favorite still cannot be ignored.

His third in the Del Mar Derby in the States at Group 2 level on the turf is form too good to be ignored.

The chestnut colt was off key from the word go in Saturday’s race blowing the start by four lengths, and then did not have to best of luck after in running.

Trainer K C Wong’s Australian import Master Of Puppets destroyed a good field later in the day in the Fat Choy Cup whist Wong’s other smart four year old The Drunk Bird ran a fine race without luck at his first try over 1800 metres on the turf.

Both are worthy contenders for the Four Year Old Classic’s, along with Wong’s other four year old Master Kabiddi who ran a nice fourth in Saturdays Prelude and will grow an extra leg in the rains come.

In recent weeks trainer K C Chong’s Wonder Mossman has also burst on the scene with two outstanding wins, the latest over 1500 metres on the turf when he bolted home by four lengths in slick time.

New Zealand import Luen Yat Colorado from the Steven Choi yard is another that has done nothing wrong since his arrival.

*SATURDAY proved to be a huge day for the Golden Friend Club racing syndicate who went home with trophies for two of the day’s feature races.

Gold Coast was the first of the syndicates winners when he shrugged of his wide gate under Korean rider Moon Seyoung to run his opponents off their legs to win the Macau Golden Group Fat Choy Plate over 1200 metres.

A winner of two of his three starts to date, Gold Coast a son of the former top English two year old Excellent Art looks well above average and is headed for the top bracket.

Filipino horseman Martin Cangas rated Golden Spiritual to perfection to score a big win in the Golden Group Fat Choy Bowl over 1800 metres to give the Golden Friend Club their second win of the afternoon.

Prepared by Gary Moore, Golden Spiritual had placed third in last years Derby behind Elderly Paradise but in recent times had been struggling to recapture his form of old.

The five year old gelding looks to be right back to his best on Saturdays win and could be in for a nice summer campaign.

The day’s other feature the Golden Group Fat Choy Cup over 1400 metres was won in brilliant fashion by K C Wong’s Master Of Puppets ridden by Louis Corrales.

Master Of Puppets an Australian import who was formerly trained in Queensland by top conditioner Robert Heathcote broke a frustrating run second placings and put himself into Guinea’s contention with a six length win in a time of 1.21.1 for the trip.

The win gave K C Wong a double for the day with his latest addition to the stable Forever Friendship taking out the first of the day the Class 5, to give young Korean jockey Boo Minho his first win in the enclave.

Boo Minho along with Moon Seyoung is in Macau on a three month riding contract and prior to Saturday had to be content with a series of minor placings.

* VISITING New Zealand rider Michael McNab kicked home a winner on Friday nights sand card on top of the Steven Choi trained Luen Yat Everwin who scored a sparkling win in the Class 1 over 1600 metres in a new track record time of 1.37.5.

Malaysian rider Eirwan Khalid was another visiting rider who did not go home empty handed when he bought Macau Stand home with a well timed run for trainer K C Hoi to win the Class 3 & 4 over 1600 metres on Friday night.

Eirwan who was champion Malaysian jockey in 2012 was in town for the weekend with jockey Salle Bin Saad.

The star of Friday night’s racing however was Panamanian horseman Luis Jurado.

Jurado booted home a winning treble for three different trainers.

Jurado won the first of night on Golden Tictac for Tommy Tse, the second race on Montaquila for Kim Cheong and capped off his night when Oriental Prestige arrived in time for trainer Tony Fung to win the Class 2 & 3 over 1350 metres.