Australian import Wonder Mossman added a Group 2 victory to his fine record when he powered to the line to take out Sundays feature Star River-Windsor Arch Sand Specialist Stakes at Taipa.
Given a lovely ride by jockey Luis Jurado Wonder Mossman went home too well at the end of the 1600m for Luen Yat Blackberry (Charles Perkins); with Brother Francis (Fausto Durso) close up in third.
A son of Vinery Stud’s Mossman from the Danehill mare Eighth Wonder, Wonder Mossman originally raced in Australia for Gerry Harvey under the name of Racing Eight, winning a maiden at Warwick Farm and placing four times from only six starts when prepared by David Payne.
The gelding has now won three races in Macau from seven starts and placed third to Lucky And Wealthy in the Macau Derby back in April.
With regular jockey Peter Ho sidelined with injury trainer K C Chong found an able replacement in Luis Jurado, and the talented Panamanian horseman was full of praise for the four year old after the win.
“I was so happy that they ask me to ride the horse and that I can win for them. This is a very good horse.” Jurado said
“We were held up a bit coming to the corner and I just had to be patient, but when the run came I had plenty of horse under me.”
Jurado is a much travelled jockey with over 1000 career winners to date.
A former top apprentice in his home country, Jurado had plied his trade successfully in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and the USA prior to coming to Macau.
“It was slow going when I first came to Macau but I told myself I was coming to work hard and give it my best shot and it’s all paying off now,” he said.
Jurado is in fifth spot on the riders table with 24 winners this season.
Disappointment in Sunday’s race was the Dubai winner Elderly Paradise who was sent out even money favorite.
After being put into a good spot from his wide gate by Andrew Calder the gelding ran on only fairly for fifth place beaten four lengths.
Chance Encounter Brings Rewards
A chance encounter between two Australians in the Philippines paid dividends again on Sunday when four year old New Zealand bred gelding Fields Avenue picked up his second win in Macau.
Macau Jockey Club Master Farrier Todd Gibbons was holidaying in Angeles City when purely by chance he met retired businessman Wayne Williams who was originally from the Gold Coast.
Over a couple of beers the two found they had a mutual interest in horse racing and as a result of that Wayne Williams decided to buy a horse and race it in Macau.
Fields Avenue overcame his wide gate of 13 and a tough run early under Ruben Silvera to show plenty of fight in winning the Class 4 & 5 over 1800 metres on the turf.
Prepared by Geoff Allendorf, Fields Avenue was bet down confidently late to start at 5/1.
“He did a good job today from the wide draw it was a good tough win.” Allendorf said.
“He’s come back well from his break and strengthened up a bit and it was good to win another race for Wayne.”
Wayne Williams was not able to make it to Macau on Sunday but watched the race in the Philippines live via the MJC website.
Judging by Sunday’s victory there is more to come for Fields Avenue who is a son of Le Bec Fin from the Pompeii Court dam Miss Pompeii.
Geoff Allendorf’s day was capped off when his promising youngster Captain Sunshine proved too slick for his opponents later in the day in the Class 2 & 3 over 1350 metres on the sand.
Given a perfect ride by Andrew Calder Captain Sunshine made it win number two on the all weather and looks a nice horse on the way up.
“He’s still learning even after seven runs and Andrew (Calder) gave him a brilliant ride, he’s got great hands and gets them to relax.
“I thought he was my best chance today on his work but he still had to make the step up in class.”
The win also made it a double for Andrew Calder who won the first of the day the Two and Three Year Old Handicap on the Peter Leyshan trained Yu Long Bao Ma.
A lovely looking daughter of Lonhro Yu Long Bao Ma kicked again after being headed to score a nice win and looks destined for better things.
It was a day of doubles with comeback jockey Mark Lei chalking up a double on the K H Leong pair Power Purdey (Class 3) and Jylland (Class 4& 5), and Panamanian hoop Ruben Silvera making it a double with Fields Avenue and Great Tiger in the last of the day the Class 3 turf.
