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Lucky Winston Wins Director's Cup at Taipa

3 minute read

The wonderful association between jockey Martin Wepner and Lucky Winston continued with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group 2 Director’s Cup on the turf course at Taipa.

On a track rated as heavy, Lucky Winston once again came from well back in the run to power home though the middle of the pack to win running away under Wepner, for what has been his biggest win to date.

Lucky Winston beat the 100/1 outsider The Whirlwind (Luis Corrales), with the pace maker Oh So Easy (Kevin Leung) holding on for third.

Martin Wepner first linked up with Lucky Winston back in November of last year when on a mark of 78, he flashed home for a close second to Oh So Easy to be beaten a head. Since then the pair have linked up a further eight times with the result now reading four wins and three seconds.

Saturdays win was the son of Churchill Downs (Aus) first in Group company and will not be his last judging by the impressive fashion that he scored in.

“As soon as they raise the bar he just keeps rising to the occasion.” Wepner said.

“I let him find his feet early like always and we were well back in the run. We had a lot of work to do when I started to wake him up after the eight hundred.”

“We were held up a moment in the straight and then when the opening came he just blew them away.”

“He is on a rating of 107 now and he will win again especially with the wet tracks we are having.”

Trainer Kim Cheong has done a marvelous job with the six year old who has raced 13 times this season but has stood up well to his racing. So much so that he was awarded the nod as the best turned out horse in the parade prior to the race.

Lucky Winston was originally a $10,000 Aud. purchase at the 2012 Melbourne Autumn Sale and following a barrier trial win at Echuca was sold onto Macau.

The geldings overall record reads 10 wins and 10 placed efforts from a total of 45 starts and over $2.7 million HKD for his owner a long time MJC supporter in Mr. Tam Vai Lam.

Smart three year old Win Win Friendship made it two wins from his three starts in Saturdays other feature race the University Of Macau Alumni Association Cup over 1200 metres.

Ridden by Brazilian rider Ruan Maia, Win Win Friendship soon took command of the race away from the gates and led clearly. Maia stretched the margin further by opening up a three length break at the two hundred and had enough in hand to stave off the flying late challenge by Eangle Commander (Martin Wepner), with Winner Fortune (Akash Aucharuz) in third.

Whilst Saturdays win was not near as impressive as the three years olds effortless win in 1.08.7 over 1200 metres on June 3rd, it showed the son of Gold Centre’s (Aus) versatility to be able to handle any type of track.

At his debut on the sand Win Win Friendship chased home the speedy The Pirate King who has since won again. Then followed his nippy 1200 metre win on a good track, with Saturday’s victory coming on the heaviest track we have had in some time.

Prepared by K C Chong Win Win Friendship is a nice type that will develop further and should have no trouble reaching the top ranks.

Wichita Linesman has been a nice find for trainer Danny Wong this season with the former West Australian galloper adding another win to his resume in Saturday’s Class 2 Handicap over 1800 metres.

The four year old had to dig deep under jockey Wayne Smith to prevail by a neck over Macau Guineas (Gr1) winner River Treasure (Ruan Maia), with a huge space back to Vancouver Jaguar back in third.

The four old has now won three races with a close second under his belt to Lucky Winston from only six runs in Macau. With those runs he has already picked up close to $800,000 HKD in prize money, including a Group 3 victory in the 4YO Prelude back in March.

It’s certainly well up on his total prize money that the gelding picked up when racing under the same name in Western Australia when prepared by Daniel Morton.

Wichita Linesman’s seven runs there netted him three wins, two at Kalgoorlie and one at York with a total of $46,970 in stakes (approx $277,000 HKD).

It’s certainly not over yet for the son of Danehill Express (Aus) who appears to be adept on any type of going and will have no problem stepping up to the Class 1 ranks in Macau.
Racing and Sports

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