Panamanian born Louis Corrales is Macau’s Champion jockey following a thrilling two day battle that went right down to the final two races of the season.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Corrales and Brazilian rider Fausto Durso went into Friday night’s card locked together on 46 wins each with Durso taking first blood with a win in the first of the night on Nothing To Say.
Corrales answered the challenge with a victory on smart newcomer Brave Rhino in race three that seen both jockeys kick off on Saturday with 47 wins apiece.
Again it was Durso who landed first points early when both riders fought out a thrilling battle the length of the straight when pace maker Fortune Smiles under Durso fought back courageously after being headed by Corrales on the hot favorite Riches Treasure in the Class 3 over 1950 metres.
The equalizer came for Corrales when the Australian import Master Kabiddi romped home in the Class 3 & 4 over 1500 metres to level the score at 48 wins.
However it was not until race seven that Corrales was able to wrap the title up when the very promising three year old Win Smoothly was dominant in the Class 4 & 5 over 1200 metres to seal Durso’s fate.
Corrales was on top of the favorite in the final event the Class 3 & 4 in Notevenow and whilst punters rallied behind Durso to equal the score, it wasn’t to be with race going to Tiger Exceed to cap of a great year for champion apprentice Charles Perkins.
Louis Corrales becomes the first product of the MJC Apprentice Training Academy to win a Macau Jockeys’ title in the Club’s 24 year history.
Louis was bought to Macau at age 17 by his Uncle Jose Corrales, a former three time champion jockey who ruled the jockey’s ranks in the enclave from 1994 to 1996.
Louis Corrales did not take long to start kicking winners home, but a race fall soon threatened to end his career and almost his life, when he was left with severely fractured skull. The road to recovery was a long hard process and it was 18 months before the pint sized apprentice was to resume race riding.
Corrales dominated the junior ranks thereafter and was runner up in the jockeys’ championship in both 2002 to Ireland’s Robbie Burke and 2003 to South Africa’s Gavan Van Zyl, with a third place behind Fausto Durso in 2008.
Saturday though was his sweetest moment with Corrales dedicating the win to his Uncle Jose.
“I wanted to win this championship for him.” Corrales said
“He bought me to Macau and he believed in me. I look up to him so much he taught me what I know I owe it all to him.”
“I have to thank all my owners and the trainers too. I got so much support especially the last month so many people were calling me for rides it was just great.”
“I feel proud to be the first Macau apprentice to win a championship and it’s also good for the Club.
“And of course I have to thank my family who always support me so much wherever I ride.”
Corrales rode 13 winners for the month of August as opposed to Durso’s four to come from fourth spot in the standings in July.
Corrales is also closing in on another milestone in Macau with now 596 career wins under his belt so the 600 mark is the first priority for the new season.
*Champion Apprentice for the second year is French born lad Charles Perkins who has been revelation since he commenced riding in January 2012.
Perkins won the last race of the season on the 17/1 shot Tiger Exceed to finish with 34 winners for the year putting him in fourth place on the jockeys’ standings.
“It’s been a really great year again and I have to say thanks to my boss K H Leong who is a great man and a great trainer.”
“I had so much support from his owners especially Mr. Tang Hing Keung and Mr.Chan Ming Wing, I am so very grateful for that.”
“I have so many other people to thank like K C Wong who gave me first Group 1 winner and had enough faith in me to give me the ride on the Derby favorite.”
“Alan Tam gave me a Group 1 winner, and Craig Marshall supported me a lot. “
“There is a lot of other trainers like Steven Chow and Steven Choi and owners like Mr. Chan Chi Ming and there’s trainer’s like Geoff Allendorf.”
Perkins has ridden a total of 62 winners which has been a superb effort that has been achieved in around 14 months race riding with six months spent on the sidelines with injuries.
“I came here as a track-work rider and I am so grateful to the MJC for allowing me to follow my dream to be an apprentice.”
“My next dream is to be champion Macau jockey and I cannot wait for the next season.”
