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The Alfonso made it back to back Macau Winter Trophies with another dominant performance in the Group 2 event at Taipa.

In what was a carbon copy of his ride in the race last year, jockey Luis Corrales had The Alfonso parked in exactly the same spot in the run.

Once the gates were released Corrales quickly put the flashy looking entire into the box seat trail on the back of the pacemakers Perfect Alloy and Wonder Mossman.

Given full rein in the straight The Alfonso strode on by of Perfect Alloy and was eased right down by Corrales in the run to the line.

Bobo So Cute (Andrew Calder) ran on very strongly late for second, with Kelowna Star (Martin Wepner) running in third.

Saturday’s win takes The Alfonso’s record to six wins, and five placed efforts from his 17 runs since he arrived in Macau two years ago.

The six year olds prize money is now just over the $5 million HKD mark. Included in those placed efforts was his luckless neck defeat by Dashing Fellow in the Group 3 Hong Kong – Macau Trophy in March last year.

The Alfonso also turned in a mighty effort at his second run in Hong Kong in the Sa Sa Ladies Purse over 1800 metres in November, after having no luck and a wide run from gate 12 to finish in eighth spot. Only beaten two and a quarter lengths by Horse Of Fortune.

Trainer Joe Lau is eying off another trip to Hong Kong with the son of Magnus, this time for the Group 3 Centenary Vase run over 1800 metres at Sha Tin on February 5.

“That’s the plan if he does well.”

“We were looking at the January Cup at Happy Valley but we were not happy with him at the time.”

“We’ll just see how he does from here on.” Lau said.

The win by the Alfonso capped off a great weekend for the Lau stable with A Perfect Gift winning the first on Friday night the 0 to 55 rated contest over 1050 metres under Luis Corrales, and Clown Master taking out the Class 6 over 1200 metres on the turf Saturday for jockey Peter Ho.

Whilst he was wrapped with the commanding win by The Alfonso, Joe Lau declared that his biggest thrill for the weekend was the win by his old warrior the eleven year old Clown Master.

“That for me is just the greatest to see the old horse back in the winner’s circle.”

“That really made my day, what a marvelous old horse he is.” Lau added.

In his prime Clown Master won the Macau – Hong Kong Trophy back in 2011 and at his peak was rated at a mark of 115.

Time however takes its toll and gelding’s last win was October 2014 after he had slipped down to a rating of 58. Going out for Saturday’s race Clown Master was down on a mark of 21 points, but even that was not enough to entice many punters into him and he jumped at odds of 28/1.

“I freshened him right up since his last run back in November and Peter (Ho) gave him a great ride.”

The win on Clown Master was the start of a big day for Peter Ho with the talented rider kicking home a treble for the afternoon.

Ho was successful with Stallion Treasure in the 30 to 55 rated contest over 1500 metres for the combined stable of Rambo Tse and K C Wong, then lifted Cheerful Fish over the line in the 30 to 55 event over 1200 metres.

English import Victory Megastar made it three from three on the Taipa sand surface with runaway win in the Class 2 & 3 over 1350 metres on Friday night.

Ridden by Luis Corrales, Victory Megastar took command of the race soon after the start and traveled on the bridle to the corner before being given full rein.

The five year old son of Medicean slipped into overdrive and left his rivals in his wake putting ten lengths on the field. At the line it was Victory Megastar by eight lengths eased down from Golden Idol (Peter Ho), with Dutch Interior (Wayne Smith) running home for third.

The gelding was first up since August for trainer James Moore after pulling with some minor issues after a run on the turf. However he had looked sharp in a trial back in December with Corrales on top.

In a pre race interview Corrales gave the horse the thumbs up but it was obvious from the look on the faces of connections after, that the gelding had exceeded their expectations in simply destroying a good quality class 2 & 3 field.

Victory Megastar was raced in the UK by the owner Mr. See Wai Keung and had won a 2YO Maiden at Kempton when prepared by Clive Cox. The five year old was transferred to James Moore in Macau in February last year and is really going to make merry on the all weather judging by Friday’s win.

For Luis Corrales the win was his fourth on the night with his overall tally for the weekends racing five winners after taking out the Group 2 Winter Trophy on The Alfonso Saturday.

For James Moore there was more to come from the weekend with his smart sprinter Hostwin Galaxy proving far too strong for his opposition in the Class 2 & 3 over 1500 metres (turf) Saturday.

Ridden by South African jockey Martin Wepner, Hostwin Galaxy made it two wins in Macau and bought his overall record to four starts for as many wins.

Hostwin Galaxy won at his only two runs in Australia when prepared by Gary Moore with wins at Hawkesbury and Doomben.

The son of Redoute’s Choice succumbed to knee chips and following an operation was transferred to James Moore in Macau.

Saturday s win was his first attempt at 1500 metres and the four year old was put into a great spot in the run by Martin Wepner and was travelling like the winner a long way out.

Once in the straight he quickly pounced on the leaders and although wanting to lay in a touch perhaps jarring up a little on the firm ground, was simply too good.

Second placed Eclair Journey (Andrew Calder) and third placed Obrigado Mais (Wayne Smith) both turned in nice runs from a Derby point of view.

Both finished the race off well with Obrigado Mais held up for while in the straight and should have finished closer.