There has been no stopping Brazilian jockey Fausto Durso with another four winners over the weekend taking him to 600 race wins in Macau and another milestone in his brilliant career.
Durso first arrived in Macau in March 2004 and was an instant hit kicking home three winners on his first day. Since then he has been one of the most consistent riders in the enclave.
He was champion jockey in 2006-07 with 86 winners and again the following season with 78 victories. He has since been runner up on three occasions to six time champion Manoel Nunes.
Manoel Nunes is the most successful jockey in MJC history with 827 winners to date.
With Durso is second with Louis Corrales third with 585 victories and Australian jockey John Didham next best on 559.
Manoel Nunes holds the lead on 38 wins in the current jockeys ‘premiership race even though he has been riding in Singapore since early January.
Durso who missed close on three months of this season has whittled that lead down now to two wins after the weekend.
With Nunes currently in Singapore until at least the end of June, the stage could be set for a great battle between the two Brazilian horsemen for the remaining two months of the season.
Durso’s weekend kicked off on Friday night a win on Delight Consul for trainer Pat Lee in the Class 4 & 5 over 1350 metres.
Turquoise Song from the K W Chan stable made it a quick double for Durso when he saluted per medium of a beautiful ride from gate 11 in the Class 3 & 4 over 1600 metres.
On Saturdays turf card the Peter Leyshan prepared Anson gave Durso an armchair ride in the Class 3 over 1950 metres to rack up 599 winners, but despite riding the next two favorites Durso could not crack the 600 barrier having to settle for second place on both of them.
It was a surprise win on the 22/1 long shot Northern Champion in the last of the day that sealed the magic 600 for Durso when the gelding burst out of the pack late to score by a neck in a thrilling three way finish.
Northern Champion was one of the top three year olds of his year before succumbing to knee problems and trainer Vincent Chong has done a fine job to get the five year old back to winners circle.
Ronnie Stewart On A Roll
* AFTER a slow start in Macau Australian jockey Ronny Stewart has really been on a roll, adding another three winners over the weekend to bring his tally to six wins and six placings from his 32 rides in the enclave.
Stewart produced a nicely rated front running ride to win on 16/1 shot Nata Way from the extreme gate of 14 for trainer Peter Leyshan in the Class 5 over 1600 metres on Friday night’s sand program.
Saturday it was again a couple of long priced runners that provided a double for the young Australian rider, the first of them being the Joe Lau prepared Super Dan who saluted at 20/1 in the Class 5 over 1200 metres turf.
Happy Strength from the Gary Moore stable was the second of Stewart’s winners when he arrived at odds of 22/1 in the Class 3 Over 1400 metres.
Stewart has a strike rate of 19% win and 38% place rate the second best at present behind Manoel Nunes.
Trainer Joe Lau continued his purple patch of form leading in three winners over the two days racing.
Lau picked up a double on Friday night with Wealthy Boy in the 0-50 Special Conditions Race and Jangala Phoenix in the Class 5 & 6.
That came hot on the heels of a Group 3 win with Depot Beach in the Macau Sprint Trophy a fortnight back and a Class 1 victory with Luck San last weekend.
