3 minute read

Trainer Geoff Allendorf looks to have another smart youngster in the three year old gelding Luen On Eagle after he left his rivals standing at his debut in Macau last Saturday over 1200 metres.

Ridden by New Zealander Andrew Calder, Luen On Eagle made light work of his opposition when he showed a good turn of foot from his wide draw in gate 10 to cross the field and lead easily.

Once in the home straight Calder gave the three year his head and he quickly bounded away from his chasers to record an easy maiden win.

Allendorf quinelled the race with his other entry Highspot (Benny Woodworth) running on for second with the race favorite River Double a distant third.

Luen On Eagle, by Stryker, continues the good run of success Allendorf has enjoyed from the Online Horse Sales that have been streamed live to the MJC Member’s Lounge since 2014.

Luen On Star, a product of the 2015 Ready2Race sale, has won four races to date and a total of $HK601,000 in prize money for Allendorf, whilst Luen On Treasure, bought from the 2015 NZB Karaka Ready To Run sale, has won three races including the Listed Lisboa Challenge and $HK721,000.

Both Luen On Star and Luen On Treasure are raced by longtime Allendorf stable supporter Thomas Lau Pong Sing.

Newcomer Luen On Eagle who was only a $A36,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Million’s Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale, is raced by Thomas Lau in Partnership with well NSW Central Coast racing identity Colin Keane.

Keane has been racing horses in Macau since 2007 when he relocated his flying sprinter Bennetts Green to the enclave after he was finding it difficult to get suitable races to place the gelding in Australia.

Bennetts Green won seven races and placed on six occasions in Macau for Keane, and picked up over $HK3 million prize money.

Australian import The Moon’s Back broke through for his maiden win in Macau with a late lunge to snatch victory right on the wire in the Class 3 & 4 over 1500 metres, under Brazilian rider Ruan Maia on Saturday.

The Moon’s Back was originally purchased as a Derby prospect for last season and didn’t fall that short of the mark with a nice third in the race behind Sacred Man.

Whilst Saturdays effort was his first win in Macau he has still managed to pick up over $HK555,000 in prize money.

Prior to coming to Macau The Moons Back was a maiden winner at Swan Hill in Victoria when prepared by former Macau champion jockey Paddy Payne.

Saturday was the Hussonet gelding’s first run for his new stable the combined yard of Rambo Tse and K C (Paul) Wong.

The gelding found the line strongly on Saturday after drifting back early in the run and should enjoy a nice season as a five year old.

My Passport from the Joe Lau yard was another impressive winner in taking out the 2nd Division of the Class 2 Handicap over 1200 metres.

The five year old was having only his second run in Macau after a disappointing effort when well supported on the all weather surface in November.

On that occasion the son of Nicconi looked completely lost on the circuit and faded to be beaten over 12 lengths.

Saturday on a good turf track was an entirely different story, with the five year old sent straight to the front by visiting Malaysian rider Benny Woodworth to lead comfortably.

Woodworth then let rip on My Passport at the two hundred metres to run out an easy three lengths winner over Cathy’s Star (Luis Corrales), with Denzil’s Choice (Martin Wepner) running in third.

My Passport’s winning time of 1.09.3 was only 0.01 outside the much stronger first division taken out by Felizmaster.

My Passport formerly raced in Victoria under the same name when trained by Team Hawkes where he won two races one at Bendigo, and one at Mornington from his five starts.

In both his wins in Australia he showed brilliant speed on good tracks and provided he can get similar surfaces here he will have no trouble paying his way for connections.