3 minute read

Brazilian jockey Ruan Maia was the star of the Friday night meeting at Taipa with some superb displays of riding kicking home three winners on the six event card.

What made the night even more special was that Maia was celebrating his 29th birthday, and also celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife Erica.

Maia struck early in the night with a win on Cheerful Companion for trainer Alan Tam in the first the Class 6 over 1350 metres.

Cheerful Companion has now won his last three races straight all with Ruan Maia in the saddle.

Friday night’s victory was certainly a less eventful ride then his previous win. In that race the saddle slipped badly down to the left side of the horse putting Maia in great difficultly. In a wonderful display of horsemanship Maia managed not only to stay in the saddle, but still was able to get the four year first past the post.

A son of No Excuse Needed (NZ), Cheerful Companion is one of the first draft of horses bought through the MJC’s Online Sales concept from the original sale in 2014.

The gelding has taken a while to mature, but now as a late four year old he is really hitting his straps and has now returned his owners Wong Kin Ping and Choi Wai Shing, close to $500,000 HKD for his original purchase price of $34,000 NZD at the Karaka Sales.

Speed Of King from the Stanley Chin yard was the second of Maia’s winners in the 30 to 55 Handicap over 1350 metres, when he went home too well for Eangle Commander (Martin Wepner), with Great Party (Horace Lam) in third.

The Sio Cheong trained prepared My Dream capped off Ruan Maia’s night with a big win in the last of the night the Class 3 over 1510 metres.

Back in his customary spot at the tail of the field in the run, My Dream started a long run from the five hundred metre mark and really hit his stride over the last two hundred. The gelding flashed home wide out to win running away from Derby aspirant Same Beauty (Leo Salles), with Nothing To Say (Martin Cangas) in third.

My Dream a son of the former Hong Kong Group 3 Centenary Vase winner Lord Of Warriors (USA) is an old marvel. The rising nine year old has been a great money spinner for connections having won 12 races and placed 30 times from his 86 starts, and has returned his owner Mr. King Ho close to $2.5 million HKD in prize money.

The gelding is racing better than ever with four wins this season and is not done with yet judging by the ease of Friday night’s win.

Ruan Maia is the latest Brazilian jockey to follow in the footsteps of Manoel Nunes and Fausto Durso who both made huge impressions as Champion jockeys in the enclave.

Another Brazilian jockey Leo Salles was runner up on 54 winners to Luis Corrales (65) in last year’s Jockeys Premiership, and Maia is looming as a worthy contender for next season’s title with 17 winners posted for this season after arriving in late December.

Peter Ho has increased his lead to nine wins over four times Champion Luis Corrales following a double on Friday night.

Ho has been making merry while Corrales has been sidelined following a race fall on March 24th but is expected to resume race riding this coming weekend.

Peter Ho was successful on Military Super in the 30 to 55 rated event over 1350 metres for trainer Tony Fung on what looks to be a nice progressive horse.

With two wins from only three starts the Irish bred son of Excellent Art (GB) looks to have a good future especially on the all weather surface.

Ho rounded his night off with a lovely ride on the Peter Leyshan trained Ashkari to win the Class 2 & 3 over 1350 metres.

Ashkari was squeezed out soon after the start and lost a good three lengths, but in a typical patient Peter Ho ride, the gelding was balanced up and found a nice position in the rear half of the field close to the rail. By the time the runners were approaching the home turn Ashkari was tucked away on the inside right on the leader’s backs and traveling on the bridle. The six year old English import let down in grand fashion when called on and raced clear for a good win.

With 23 more race days remaining we should see a great battle develop between Ho and Corrales for Premiership Honors.