MACAU: Taipa Treble For American Trainer

Monday, 28 May 2012: American Craig Marshall enjoyed his best day as trainer leading in three winners at Taipa on May 26.

The highly promising Windicatorr ridden by Charles Perkins was the first of Marshall's treble when he stretched late to snatch victory from Classic Happy (Andy Helfenbein) in the 2 & 3 Year Old Handicap over 1050 metres.

It was win number two for the son of Will He Shine who had bolted in fresh up on May 4th and Marshall predicts a bright future for the three year old.

“He is really only now showing me what I've expected from him all along.” Marshall said.

“We gelded him after his first two runs and that's been the turning point.

“His time of 1.02 on Saturday was exceptional, he broke Luck of Smiling's class record and there was nine lengths back to the rest.”

“Charles did a fine job and his eight pounds claim was a big plus on the day as there was only a nose in it.” Marshall added.

Marshall has a tremendous strike rate with his young US imports since he commenced training in Macau in the 2007- 08 season.

“I have bought nearly all my horses out of Florida it's been a great hunting ground for me. The climate is similar to Macau and they adapt quickly.”

“Horses like Chiu Chow Brother who won six races in his first year, Great Ton Kingdom who won his first six straight and Stormy Ton who won four from his first five have all came out of Florida.

“I bought this horse (Windicatorr) out of a paddock, he is nicely put together and I seen his sire race a lot when I was assistant in the states for Todd Pletcher."

Good Racing was the second of Marshall's winners when he broke through for a well deserved win under Tiago Pereira in the class 5, and did it in runaway fashion with a three lengths victory over the 1350 metre trip.

A son of the outstanding racehorse English Channel, who won 13 of his 23 races including the 2007 Breeders Cup Turf, Good Racing had run four seconds previous on the all weather.

“He really deserved that win he's been so close but always just beaten by a better one on the day.

“I think also we might have been pressing him a bit much to go forward because he does not like the kickback.

“Whilst he was not far off the leaders he was out of the kickback and on the bridle and he really finished the race off well.” Marshall said.

Chiu Chow Knight ridden by Fausto Durso gave Marshall his treble for the afternoon when he powered away from his opponents to win the Class 4 & 5 over 1600 metres in smart time.

The three year old colt has appreciated the step up in distance in recent starts and looks destined for better things.

“He is going to furnish into a nice horse with a little bit of time.

“I also seen his sire Political Force race a lot in the USA and stepping this horse up distance has been the turnaround for him.” Marshall said.

Saturday's treble gives Marshall 11 winners and 16 placings from 103 runners this season, and gives him a total of 80 career winners since he set up base in Macau.

With plenty of young up and coming talent in his yard Marshall should round out his season with another respectable tally from his small team.

• CARL'S Star provided his new trainer Geoff Allendorf with a first up win in Saturdays feature race, the Guandong, Hong Kong and Macau Retired Police Trophy over 1050 metres.

Ridden by apprentice Martin Cangas, Carl's Star hit the line too strongly for Ka Wang Fortune (Frankie Choi) with Turquoise Fast (Roger Yu) in third.

Allendorf took over preparing Carl's Star following Paddy Busuttin's recent decision to move back to New Zealand.

Raced by Auckland real estate developer Carl Gray, the five year old son of Howbaddouwantit has now won three races in Macau all on the all weather surface.

The win gave Allendorf 17 victories for the season and made it win number 16 for the stable apprentice Filipino lad Martin Cangas.

Cangas is currently locked in a great battle for the apprentice's title with Charles Perkins who is on 17 wins, with two time champion Cash Wong on 14.

Local trainer K C Chong kept up his good recent form with a winning double with Copper Alloy ridden by Manoel Nunes in the Class 2 & 3 over 1050 metres, and Secret Gathering who made it two wins on the trot in the Class 3 & 4 also over 1050 metres under Horace Lam.

Horace Lam later made it a double for the day winning the last on top of Oriental Prestige in the Class 3 over 1350 metres.