3 minute read

Macau star Bobo So Cute showed that he is right back to his best with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group 2 Spring Trophy at Taipa.

Ridden for the first time by Ryan Curatolo, Bobo So Cute came from a mile back in the run to power home over the last two hundred metres to beat Kelowna Star (Martin Wepner) easily on the line, with Perfect Alloy (Horace Lam) close up in third.

Sent out even money favorite, Bobo So Cute was back in the pack under a solid ride, still spotting tear away leader Wonder Mossman at least fifteen lengths from the six hundred metre point. The five year old gelding had closed the margin to ten lengths by the home corner, than unleashed his customary late burst to pick up the leaders in a few bounds.

Prepared by Alan Tam, Bobo So Cute a son of Savabeel (Aus) won six out of seven races in his first season in Macau as a three year old, and was touted as future Derby horse. However the gelding lost all form after his Lisboa Challenge Stakes win in July 2015, and stayed winless until a surprise win on the all weather in September last year.

A second place behind Kelowna Star in the Autumn Trophy on the sand in November and a fast finishing second to The Alfonso in the Winter Trophy both Group 2 races, signaled the five year was back on song.

It was an elated Ryan Curatolo after win with the young Frenchman full of praise for the bay gelding.

“That was fantastic. What a really impressive win he just blew them away.”

“It was nice to have a ride for M C (Alan Tam). It’s my first ride for him in three years and it was special to deliver a Group 2.”

Alan Tam will now set his sights on the Hong – Kong Macau Trophy over 1400 metres at Sha Tin on March 5th. Bobo So Cute went around in the race last year and was beaten five lengths by Dashing Fellow. The geldings form was not at all on par back then compared to now.

The win on Saturday took Bobo So Cute’s earnings to over $2.7 million HKD and his record now reads nine wins and six placed efforts from his 29 starts.

Lucky Winston gave trainer Kim Cheong and jockey Martin Wepner a great start to the Year Of The Rooster with a narrow win in the IACM Lunar New Year Trophy over 1800 metres.

Given a lovely ride by Martin Wepner, Lucky Winston really dug in late in a thrilling finish to hold off Same Beauty (Akash Aucharuz) to win by a head, with Grand Double Win (Ryan Curatolo) a head away in third.

A six year old son of Churchill Downs (Aus), Lucky Winston’s form had been sound going into the race however punter bypassed the gelding and he went out at odds of 33/1. ‘

Northern Legend jumped favorite at $30.00 and after been given the run of the race by Peter Ho was a bit one paced in the straight and would up in fifth beaten three lengths.

Kim Cheong later in the day teamed up with Irishman Wayne Smith to take out the Good Health Handicap over 1200 metres with Modena Favorite.

Modena Favorite did a fine job from gate 13 under Smith to get across and dispute the lead with first starter Kirin Wit (Martin Cangas). The five year gave a nice kick at the two fifty and had enough in store to stave off the late charge by favorite Californiatreasure (Ryan Curatolo) to win by a neck, with Kirn Wit catching the eye in third.

Kim Cheong shared training honors for the afternoon with K H Leong with both leading in a double.

K H Leong won the first race for the Year Of The Rooster with Only Pearl in the Lai See Handicap over 1200 metres, and then capped the day off with One Belt One Road (Akash Aucharuz) bouncing back to form to lead all the way in the last the Good Fortune Handicap over 1500 metres.