Former Melbourne galloper Depot Beach has picked up his first black type victory in Macau with an all the way win in Sunday’s G3 Macau Sprint Trophy at Taipa.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Prepared by Joe Lau, Depot Beach was sent straight to the front by Australian rider Ronny Stewart who rated him to a nicety before skipping clear to win by a length and a quarter from UK import Happy Proposal (Martin Cangas).
Depot Beach a son of the 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum started his racing career under the guidance of Danny O’Brien at Flemington, with a win on the synthetic track at Geelong and a placing at Moonee Valley to his credit.
“He was originally bought for Hong Kong but had some vet issues and the owner Mr. Au decided to send him to me.” Joe Lau said.
“He did not race for over a year as he has some sesamoid issues but with time and patience he is back in good shape.
“I liked the horse from day one and at his second run for me he was just beaten by a top horse in Sino Brilhante in a Group 3 race on the sand.
“He is a pretty useful horse and will get better provided he stands up.”
Patience is Lau’s trademark with the Malaysian long being recognized as one of Macau’s top conditioners who has always been able to get the max from horses.
It was Joe Lau’s first win in the Macau Sprint Trophy a time honored event first run in 1997.
Lau came close in 1998 with his classic sprinter Polish Warrior who was narrowly defeated by Laurel Best, but since then the race has been one of the few feature events in the enclave that has eluded him.
Smiling Happy the stables other runner in the race and the one more fancied by the public, wound up in sixth spot after being handy in the run.
“He’s had a tough campaign with the Guineas and the Derby but he ran an honest race, a lot of those horses that raced in those races are a bit tired now.”
The win by Depot Beach completed a winning double for Lau who took out the first of the day the Class 5 & 6 with Jangala Pheonix ridden by Benny Woodworth.
Depot Beach also completed a double on the day for Ronny Stewart who had earlier scored on Bright Dragon in the Maiden for trainer Louis Ho.
Stewart, currently here on a three month contract was full of praise for Depot Beach and feels there is still more to come with the four year old.
“He is only lightly raced and will continue to improve.”
“We were not sure if I would be able to get across from the wide gate but we knew he had a lot of speed and was kept fresh for the race.” Stewart said.
“I walked the track yesterday and the ground was definitely better on the inside, so that’s where I wanted to be.”
Stewart has kicked home three winners in the past week and is looking to build on that to establish himself in the enclave.
“Really happy with the way things are going now.” Stewart said
“It was a bit quiet the first couple of weeks but it’s all coming together now. I just want to find a few more like Depot Beach.”
* COMEBACK jockey Mark Lei picked up his second winner in his return to the saddle after producing a nice ride on Pearl Tahiti for trainer K H Leong to win the Class 4 & 5 over 1200 metres.
Lei took full advantage of his inside gate to trail the speed before getting onto space at the two hundred and wear down early leader Diamond Match (Frankie Choi), who ended up dead heating for second with the fast finishing Let It Be (Martin Cangas) for second.
Lei returned to the saddle after a 13 year break and won on Irish Pearl at his first night back for trainer K C Wong on the all weather track on April 26.
