Australian trainer Geoff Allendorf, enjoying one of his best seasons at Taipa, added another three winners to his tally on Friday night’s mixed turf and sand card.
The promising Energy Gladiator was the first of Allendorf’s winners when he saluted per medium of a nice ride by Roger Yu to down the favorite Happy Strength (Martin Cangas) in the Class 3 over 1500 metres.
It was a much deserved victory for Energy Gladiator who according to Allendorf has been the victim of a few luckless runs of late.
“In his past three runs he’s had excuses all the time, not everything has fallen into place so it’s good to see him finally get a victory.” Allendorf said.
“He has also had some minor foot issues of late so he needed a good ride from gate 12 to win. Roger (Yu) rode him a treat.”
Allendorf has now set his sights on the Derby with the Fastnet Rock gelding.
“I will bypass the Guineas next weekend as it’s too close and we might go straight into the Derby or possibly run him in a 60 to 80 race over 1800 metres before that. I will just see how he does in the meantime," he said.
Newcomer to the stable Start It Now (Frankie Leong) was the second of the stables winners when he literally jumped out of the ground the last 200 metres to beat Sunshine Winner (Martin Cangas) in the Maiden over 1350 metres.
Allendorf has only had Start It Now for a month and whilst not aspiring for great heights with the son of Colombia, suggest there is another win or two in the gelding.
“We found the right race tonight no doubt about that, but he has only had four starts and he will improve and get further," he said.
Handy sprinter Billingsgate under apprentice Charles Perkins completed the day for the stable when he clung to a slender margin to beat the fast finishing Captain Genuki (Breinell Yamzon) in the Class 4 & 5 over 1050 metres.
It was win number four for the nice looking son of Face Value who Allendorf describes as super honest.
“He has collected a cheque in his last eight runs. He needed the claim with his 133 pounds and when they are front runners they are easy rides so you have to take advantage of that.
“It’s been a good night. I had six runners, three won, two ran third and the other one ran fifth so everything collected prize-money for my owners."
Allendorf commenced training in Macau in 2005 after a highly successful riding career in Australia, Hong Kong and Macau where he won three champion titles.
Always high on the trainer’s standings Allendorf’s best season winner wise in Macau was in 2006/07 when he led in 47 winners.
With a team of 26 in work at present and the bulk not at their full potential yet, Allendorf looks set to finish the season well.
Apprentice Charles Perkins took riding honors for the night with a winning double.
Perkins also scored on Windicatorr for English trainer Craig Marshall in the last of the night the Class 2 & 3 over 1050 meters.
Windicatorr produced a dazzling performance off his inside gate to simply blow his opponents away for a dominant win in a run time of 1.02.2, just a tick outside of record standard.
It was win number five for the speedy son of Will He Shine, with three minor placings from his 10 starts on the all weather surface.
