3 minute read

The talented James Moore trained youngster The Pirate King made it back to back wins at Taipa with a another dominant performance over 1050 metres on the sand course last Saturday.

Fired out of the gates by Luis Corrales the son of Red Element soon led and was always traveling sweetly in the run.

The two year old was chased throughout by Happy Vegetable (Wayne Smith) and Peace Get Lucky (Ruan Maia), but they were no match for The Pirate King once Corrales got serious over the last two hundred metres, with the youngster edging away late to win well.

Had things been different The Pirate King would have been plying his trade back in Australia under James Moore’s father Gary, but for an accident that resulted in him losing his right eye.

Macau is one of the few places worldwide along with the USA and Dubai that still allows one eyed horses to compete.

Australia banned them back in the 1980s but Macau being one of very few places around the world that still allow them to race, has had a few real one eyed stars that would have faced retirement elsewhere.

Sino Brilhante trained by Gary Moore won twelve races on the all weather in Macau in three seasons here and earned his connections close to $3.5 million in prize money.

Lord Nelson was another that won six races in Macau and placed in Dubai when originally prepared by Malcolm Thwaites and later Joe Lau.

“I bought him as a yearling from the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sales.” James Moore said referring to The Pirate King.

“He was originally going to my Father but after the accident I suggested bringing him here.”

“The owner Jeffery visited Macau and was very happy with the set up here.”

“I was adamant that The Pirate King would do well on the all weather in Macau, given his action and the Fairy King line similar to The Testa Rossa’s that have done so well on the sand here.”

“Luckily nothing fazes him for a young horse and he is improving all the time. Saturday was the best he has jumped so far.”

The win completed a double for the afternoon for James Moore who earlier scored with Laughing World in the Class 6 Handicap over 1350 metres.

Laughing World was given a gem of a ride by Martin Wepner who saved plenty of valuable ground in a rails hugging ride to beat Best Double (Andrew Calder), with Big Success (Ruan Maia) in third.

Not too many trainers would be keen to take on a rising eleven year old however Moore had no hesitation at all with Laughing World.

“He was well graded where he was and I felt there was still more in him as he has always been a sound horse.”

“He’s been a good result for his new owners with seven starts and five cheques including two wins.”

“He’s still well placed at the ratings and there should be a few more left in him yet.” Moore added.

Laughing World has been a real marvel horse.

From a lowly maiden win at Oamaru in New Zealand where he earned the princely sum of $3750, Laughing World has now won a total 13 races and chalked up 15 placings from his 124 starts in Macau and amassed close to $2.5 million HKD in prize money.

That is the equivalent of close to $450,000 NZD, an amount that you would need to be a Group winner in New Zealand to achieve that.

It once again underlines the attractiveness of racing horses in Macau.

The different class system allows horses to find their competitive level, along with the option of turf or sand racing, backed by a good prize money structure.