3 minute read

The new Macau partnership of trainer James Moore and South African jockey Martin Wepner is off to a flying start with the duo picking up two winners in their first week together.

Kelowna Star gave the pair a great kick off with a win in the G2 Autumn Trophy on the sand at Taipa a week back and that was followed by the Australian import Hostwin Galaxy winning the Class 2 & 3 (turf) over 1200m in brilliant fashion last Saturday.

Martin Wepner was recommended to James Moore by Moore’s assistant trainer Jim McCabe who had used his services many times whilst he was based in Malaysia.

Whilst Moore has had success with a number of different riders in Macau, with his team steadily building in numbers and strength, he felt it was time to get a more permanent arrangement and Wepner has slotted into the role perfectly.

Hostwin Galaxy was put into a great spot by Wepner parking on the back of the race favorite Mister Kaopu around four lengths off the speed.

Once heads were turned for home Wepner balanced the big gelding up and he powered home right over the top of Mister Kaopu (Ryan Curatolo), with Diva Achiever (Akash Aucharuz) a head away in third.

A son of Redoute’s Choice, Hostwin Galaxy won at his only two starts in Australia under the care of James Moore’s father Gary before being exported to Macau.

“I actually bought the horse for the owner Mr. Tam for $115,000 at the Gold Coast 2YO Sales.” James Moore said.

“He won a barrier trial easily at Rosehill and he was then sold to John Size in Hong Kong as a PPG.

“When they vetted him they found he had some remodeling in one knee so he didn’t pass the vet, and so Mr. Tam decided to race him Australia.”

Hostwin Galaxy won at his first start at Doomben and then again three months later at Hawkesbury. The gelding was then found to have a knee chip that was subsequently removed.

“After the operation Mr. Tam decided to bring the horse to Macau and we just looked after him and gave him plenty of time to recover.”

“He had worked nicely coming into the race and we just left rest up to Martin (Wepner)”

“I couldn’t have wished for a better ride he put him into a perfect spot in the run.”

Martin Wepner was also in the winner’s circle on Friday night’s sand card with a lucky late pickup ride on Luen Yat Command for trainer William Lai.

Wepner picked up the mount at the expense of Leo Salles who was unable to make the weight.

Newcomer Obrigado Mais turned in an eye catching performance at his Macau debut with a strong win in Friday’s Class 3 over 1350 metres on the sand.

Ridden by Irishman Wayne Smith Obrigado Mais was sent out at odds of 54/1 for the win but that didn’t stop him from hitting the line hard to beat Dutch Interior (Andrew Calder) with a big space to Jovial Brown (Luis Corrales) back in third.

Obrigado Mais is prepared in Macau by Kim Cheong but was originally prepared by Robert Smerdon in Victoria where he raced as Boganaire.

The grey bolted in at Geelong in a maiden over 1300 metres and placed at his only other two starts in Victoria.

A son of Husson, Obrigado Mais has plenty of good turf breeding in his pedigree being a grandson of El Prado.

Jockey Wayne Smith was full of praise for the four year old after the win and predicts a bright future for the horse.

“I’ve liked him from the first time I saw him. He is a real nice horse.” Smith said

“Kim (Cheong) has a 1600 metre race in mind for him on the 16th (December) and if he handles that well he is looking towards the four year old turf classics including the Derby.”

Obrigado Mais is Portuguese for “thank you more” and looks a really nice horse on the way up.

At his rating of 68 and his record from Australia the grey gelding would have made the cut for Hong Kong in the old days and fetched decent money.

Now with Hong Kong PP imports needing that “magical” 70 rating against their name, there is a lot of nice horses that have found their way to Macau at a fraction of the price they would have made in Hong Kong.

There is a window of opportunity open now for Macau horse buyers to pick up well bred top quality performers at very modest prices.

The Alfonso returned to the winners circle with a dominant performance to take out the Class 1 Handicap over 1400 metres on Saturday’s turf card.

The six year old entire was having his first run back since his luckless effort at Sha Tin on November 6th when ran on well from a wide run to be only beaten two and a quarter lengths behind Horse Of Fortune, in the Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies Purse over 1800 metres.

A freshen up by trainer Joe Lau since arriving home and back in trip in a race run at solid speed, The Afonso literally jumped out of the ground under regular jockey Luis Corrales to swamp his opposition over the final one hundred metres.

The Alfonso defeated Golden Double (Charles Perkins), with Bobo So Cute (Andrew Calder) flying home from the back to run third.

The win gave Joe Lau a double for the afternoon having scored earlier in the Class 6 over 1500 metres with Sharp Spear ridden by Peter Ho