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Peter Ho, last season’s champion rider in Macau, got the new season off to a flying start with a winning treble on Saturday’s mixed turf and sand card at Taipa.

Ho, long recognized as the one of the best Chinese jockeys in Asia, wrapped up his first Macau riding championship with 52 winners in August, bringing to an end the four year reign of Luis Corrales.

Ho will be keen to retain the title but is expected to face some tough opposition this year from not only Corrales but also rising Brazilian star Ruan Maia and Wayne Smith.

Impeccable Genius started Peter Ho’s day well with a big win in the Class 6 over 1500 metres (turf) after leading throughout.

The Irish bred son of Dark Angel has now put together back to back wins and with the ease of this win looks as though he is not finished yet and will handle the move to class 5 without any problems.

Ho’s second win for the day was in Saturday’s feature over 1050 metres on the sand. He guided the English import Benevolent Friend to a brilliant win over Baby Horse (Horace Lam) with Galaxy Giant (Jonie Pescuiso) a stablemate to the winner running in third.

Benevolent Friend had caught the eye with a couple of slick trials on the all weather and punters bet the son of Oasis Dream down late like there was no tomorrow to jump favorite.

Ho always had the gelding in the box seat before powering home over the final 200m to win easily.

Ho rounded out his day with a last to first ride on Grand Double Win for trainer Tony Fung in the Class 2 & 3 over 1510 metres on the sand.

Grand Double Win needs to be ridden cold early to produce his best and Ho let the six year old New Zealand import fall out to the tail of the field where he remained until the 500m.

The son of Buffalo Man got rolling soon after and swept around the field to win running away.

Trainer Kim Cheong has a nice young horse on the way up with his three year old Sebring gelding Bring Me Speed who made it two wins from three starts in the 30 to 55 rated event over 1200 metres on the turf.

Bring Me Speed caused an upset win on debut when he rocketed home late to win over 1050 metres on the all weather track. At his second start on the turf the gelding raced greenly before running on well for third behind the progressive Fontainbleau.