Seven times champion trainer Gary Moore is off to a great start for the new racing year leading in a winning treble on Saturday’s turf card at Taipa to give him five wins for the new season.
Moore won the last three races on Saturday kicking off with the Hidden Dragon (AUS) gelding Lobor Treasure who bounced back to form with a strong all the way win in the Class 3 & 4 over 1100 metres.
Ridden by Australian jockey Ronny Stewart, Lobor Treasure came out of the gates running to share the lead until the corner, before speeding away over the final two hundred for a big win.
It was win number six in Macau for the five year old gelding who has taken some time to get back to form after succumbing to a virus late last year.
“We were lucky that we didn’t lose him.” Moore said.
“It’s taken a lot of time and patience and for awhile he was racing below his best but we’ve got him back to top form again.”
Lucky Twin Star was the second of the stables winners in what was a surprise win in the Class 1 over 1200 metres.
Nowadays the seven year mostly needs soft ground to operate on but after being set alight from his wide gate by Panamanian rider Louis Corrales, Lucky Twin Star stretched the field mid race and showed plenty of fight to hold off the late charge by Smiling Happy (Ruben Silvera) to win by a neck, with the Derby winner Lucky And Wealthy (Ronny Stewart) a nose away in third.
“That was a pleasant surprise as we thought the good ground was against him.” Moore added.
New Zealand import Hostwin Challenge completed the day for the stable with another lovely ride by Ronny Stewart to win the Class 2 &3 over 1500 metres.
Moore was full of praise for Stewart after the win labelling him a class act.
“I’ve had a lot of good jockeys’ ride for me both here in Macau and Australia and Ronny (Stewart) is right up with the top bracket.”
“Very professional, knows where the post is and would hold his own in Hong Kong with the right opportunity.”
Moore has been in travel mode in recent weeks looking to top up his stable numbers for the new season and is off to the Tattersall’s Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket end of this month.
“We did not really get what we wanted out of Australia so I am off to Newmarket to fill a few orders, and expect we will have 40 in the yard by the end of the year and the bulk of those young horses.
An eighth Macau Trainer’s Title looms as a great possibility but that is not the only thing on the agenda.
“I am really looking forward to campaigning in Dubai with Sino Brilhante he is a very exciting horse, and I would love to add a Macau Derby to my trophies next year.”
Moore is currently in second spot in the early standings behind William Lai who is enjoying his best start ever with six winners posted for his King Ho stable after another two winners on the weekend.
The William Lai and King Ho team have come out of the gates flying since the new season began and added two more winners on the weekend with Break The Commands (W T Pao) Class 5, and Belgrade Nights (Andrew Calder) Class 2 & 3 both on Friday nights sand card.
With a stable of 20 in training and more to follow, the bulk of William Lai’s team is still well graded with a few younger horses just starting to hit their straps, so the good run should continue in the weeks ahead.
