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Former Macau Derby winner Turquoise Power returned to the winner’s circle with a strong win in Saturday’s Class 2 & 3 Handicap over 1500 metres at Taipa.

Ridden by Andrew Calder, Turquoise Power lived up to his name to power over the top of race favorite Pearl Green (Ruan Maia) and foil his attempt to make it six straight wins.

The Geoff Allendorf prepared winner was a conspicuous last to leave the gates and at the 800m was spotting the leaders 15 lengths.

Calder got the son of More Than Ready moving from the 600m via the rails but was still giving away a huge start to Pearl Green at the top of straight. However from the 200m Turquoise Power kicked into overdrive and the six year old stormed home for a comfortable win at the line.

Macau Guineas winner River Treasure (Roger Yu) turned in a sterling performance for third having taken the wide road and covering plenty of ground.

Turquoise Power won the 2016 Macau Derby under Joao Moreira and whilst he rarely turns in a bad performance, Saturday’s win was only his second since that victory.

“With his style of racing being such a slow beginner he needs things to fall into place for him,” Allendorf said.

“With the rain coming that helped bring them back to him as well. In saying that it was still a huge win to come from as far back as he did.”

Turquoise Power is a former Gai Waterhouse charge who won a three year old maiden at Canterbury from his 13 runs in Australia racing as Duccio.

Running second in that Canterbury maiden was Preferment who went on to win the Victoria Derby, Hill Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes.

Turquoise Power’s Macau record for Geoff Allendorf now stands at 22 runs for four wins, five placings and close to $2.5 million in prize money.

Derby favorite Pearl Green lost no admirers in his second placed effort. The four year old had won five straight prior to Saturday and was tackling a very soft track for the first time.

China Paradise rose to the occasion to score a huge win in the Class 1 & 2 Handicap over 1200 metres on Saturday and firmly establish himself as one of Macau’s best sprinters.

Ridden by Ruan Maia and prepared by Tony Fung, China Paradise ran his rivals off their legs from the moment the gates opened.

China Paradise was let run freely by Maia to lead by a good three lengths, then kicked further ahead at the top of the straight. Race favorite Krystrump (Wayne Smith) did a mighty job to run home powerfully for second after being close to fifteen lengths back with Californiatreasure (Breinell Yamzon) in third.

China Paradise is a son of the Australian stallion Red Arrow who commenced his career with Anthony Cumming’s in Australia before going to North America to wind up his racing days, culminating with a G3 win at Hollywood Park.

After commencing his career in Victoria with Darren Weir where he raced as Berri Cherry, China Paradise was sold to Macau after three starts yielded a second in a 2YO maiden at Bendigo.

China Paradise won at his first run in Macau and capped that off with another two placed efforts.

The gelding has always shown great speed but has been inclined to get a bit weak at the finish. However this season as a four year old he has come back a much stronger individual, and will not be out of place in a race like the G1 Chairman’s’ Challenge Cup on Derby day.

Ruan Maia capped his day off with an easy all the way win in the last of the day the Class 4 over 1350 metres on Kirin Wit from the combined yard of Rambo Tse and K C (Paul) Wong.

Kirin Wit simply bolted away from his rivals and left them standing to win by five and a quarter lengths at the line.

Maia leads the jockey standings on 24 winners, 12 ahead of Peter Ho with Wayne Smith third on 11 wins.

In the trainers standings after Saturday Danny Wong leads on 12 wins two ahead of Tony Fung with the joint operation of Rambo Tse and K C Wong third on eight wins.