3 minute read

Macau jockey Martin Wepner has formed a great affinity with the Kim Cheong trained Lucky Winston at Taipa this season.

The pair added another win to their tally with brilliant victory in Saturday’s feature the Hong Kong and Macau Retired Police Trophy.

Wepner timed his run to perfection on the six year old gelding to snatch victory by a head from Wichita Linesman (Roger Yu), with Éclair Journey (Akash Aucharuz) three quarters away in third.

Lucky Winston who is no doubt better with cut in the ground was sent out at odds of $164.00 for the win due to the good track conditions.

The son of Churchill Downs recorded 1.27.7 for the 1500 metres which was just inside his personal best on a good track.

Martin Wepner had his first ride on Lucky Winston back in November shortly after arriving in Macau from Malaysia.

The duo powered home for a head second on a soft track behind Oh So Easy at 1500 metres. The pair was reunited in the IACM Lunar New Year Trophy over 1800 metres in February and off a perfect ride by Wepner got home by a head from Same Beauty and Grand Double Win.

A win in April over at 1800 metres over last year’s Derby winner Turquoise Power followed, along with two more close seconds, and that was then capped off by yesterdays win.

From eight rides on the gelding Wepner has won three and placed three close seconds.

Martin was quietly confident prior to the race that Lucky Winston would run well despite the predicted rain not arriving.

“I know he grows an extra leg in the wet but his overall form on good tracks is still pretty sound and he was going very well in the morning.” Wepner said.

When asked what it is that makes the combination work so well, Wepner had this to say.

“Well it’s nothing really special. I just leave him alone early and let him relax.”

“The most important thing is you have to time his run. His got an amazing kick but you can’t get there too early.”

“I also feel that I’ve got on him at the right time of the season.”

Wepner is South African by birth and after completing his apprenticeship with the South African Jockeys Academy plied his trade in Malaysia for 16 years. He has also ridden successfully in Korea and India.

Australian import Chromium Alloy came with a barnstorming finish to upset his more fancied runners in the last of the day Saturday the Class 3 over 1200 metres.

Ridden by Horace Lam, the son of Testa Rossa (Aud) produced a last to first effort to grab victory on the line by a neck from Tuhao Power (Ryan Curatolo), with race favorite Mission Gdragon in third.

Chromium Alloy is better thought of as a 1500 to 1800 metre performer and was neglected by punters to start at odds of $184.00 for Saturday’s race.

Prior to being exported to Victor Chan’s yard in Macau, Chromium Alloy raced in Australia as Tarismo when prepared by John Sargent at Randwick. The gelding won a maiden at Newcastle and placed a further five times before being exported to Macau.

Saturday’s win took the grey gelding’s record to three wins and 11 placed efforts in Macau and close to the $1 million mark in prize money.