 Macau Expert - Edmond Cheung |
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| Edmond Cheung is a reputed race caller. He has extensive knowledge on Asian horse racing, currently one of the presenters on Cable TV racing programmes, and a contributor for Sing Tao Daily. He is best known as the winner of the first "King of Race Caller" contest organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and is known for his pace analysis and selecting longshots for racegoers. In 2009 the Macau Jockey Club invited Edmond as the commentator for Macau Hong Kong Trophy and the Macau Derby Trial. | |
Overseas Expert Column for Macau Hong Kong Trophy Day (Edmond Cheung)
S2-1 Grand Lisboa Cup
Winner of this race last year, DR SWEET usually runs well when placed prominently. With the benefit of draw 2 and winning jockey Matthew Chadwick back on board, DR SWEET is one of the leading chances.
The classy ELDERLY PARADISE, a winner of the Macau Derby last term, should pose a strong hope for connections after prepping with a barrier trial on return from his Dubai campaign, although not being 100% fit.
REGAL FLAME ran a close-up 2nd on sand over 1350m last start to threaten subsequent winner BELGRADE NIGHTS. He should finish in the frame upon high standard of that race.
BOY FROM THE BAY can set a strong pace to sneak into a placing.
MY DARK CHOCOLATE, just denied by DR SWEET in this race last year, is another possibility despite the poor draw.
SELECTIONS: 2. DR SWEET, 1. ELDERLY PARADISE, 4. REGAL FLAME, 8. BOY FROM THE BAY & 3. MY DARK CHOCOLATE
S2-2 Macau Hong Kong Trophy
OAKCREST DRIVE formerly a consistent sand track specialist showed he could act as well on turf having scored easily on heavy ground last time out. He will be a strong hope on Sunday as weather is forecast to be wet.
Another wet tracker is GOOD UNCLE. He was disappointing last time when he failed to keep in touch in the early stages of the race. Favourably drawn in barrier 2 this time and should be another strong hope to rival OAKCREST DRIVE.
LUCKY JAI had done well on heavy tracks. With the help of a lighter weight this time, the consistent performer should be in the mix.
ABSOLUTELY WIN took the Spring Trophy easily in February before running below par in Hong Kong. He can only compete for minor placings if the track deteriorated.
SELECTIONS: 7. OAKCREST DRIVE, 9. GOOD UNCLE, 6. LUCKY JAI & 2. ABSOLUTELY WIN
S2-3 Chairman’s Challenge Cup
THE LUCKY STEED is a specialist with 6 course-and-distance wins under his belt. Lightly campaigned this term but well prepped with a barrier trial for this race. He is a leading contender after having this race in mind for some time.
LUCK OF SMILING was second in this race last year. He was a pleasant surprise when able to win with a huge margin over the extended trip of 1350m after a let-up albeit on his preferred sand surface. Acted well on soft to heavy turf, he is another force to be reckoned with.
MY PONY placed in all his three runs on heavy ground. Showing signs of recovery last run, he should be a place chance if ground is as wet as forecast.
SCANDICMASTER loves the wet. Despite competing in unfavourable terms in set weights, he may spring a surprise if the wet weather prevails.
SELECTIONS: 2. THE LUCKY STEED, 1. LUCK OF SMILING, 7. MY PONY & 14.SCANDICMASTER
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (9 unit bets):
S2-2: Banker – 7. OAKCREST DRIVE
Selections – 9. GOOD UNCLE, 6. LUCKY JAI & 2. ABSOLUTELY WIN
S2-3: Banker – 2. THE LUCKY STEED
Selections – 1. LUCK OF SMILING, 7. MY PONY & 14. SCANDICMASTER
S2-4 Macau Derby
Four-year-old MASTER OF PUPPETS never finished out of first four in his 9 starts in Macau, winning the most recent two. He won easily in the Macau Guineas despite the heavy track and had also been placed on heavy ground over a mile before import. There is no trip concern as he had run creditably over 2000m. He is a strong chance in the Macau Derby this year.
LUCKY AND WEALTHY was clear of the rest when second behind MASTER OF PUPPETS in the Macau Guineas. With his proactive tactic, LUCKY AND WEALTHY can be the first few home.
MAGIC FALCON produced an impressive late surge in the Macau Guineas. 1800m will only suit him better and is a good place chance.
KING CREOLE showed plenty of progress with a most impressive victory two starts back but was not suited by the held-up tactic last time. Favourably drawn in gate 3 and should be back in prominence in this race. So he has good long shot claims.
SELECTIONS: 4. MASTER OF PUPPETS, 3. LUCKY AND WEALTHY, 9. MAGIC FALCON & 11. KING CREOLE
S2-5 Sand Classic Cup
BELGRADE NIGHTS won with plenty in hand in his last two starts. Raced only once before import and should have huge improvement in waiting as a lightly raced 4yo. Will pose a strong threat in this competitive race.
ORIENTAL PRESTIGE receives 15lb from SINO BRILHANTE this time, after finishing on the same line with the latter at level weight. The weight turnaround will make ORIENTAL PRESTIGE a force to be reckoned with.
Ultra-consistent SINO BRILHANTE suffered his first blow for a long time after finishing out of a placing last time out, in the wake of a track record-breaking victory two starts back. It is yet another bad sign of losing 7lb in body weight. He can only be considered for minor placings.
GAUTENG is regular place-getter in the season. The 6yo is highly consistent and is a good place chance with his best rider Charles Perkins back on board.
SELECTIONS: 5. BELGRADE NIGHTS, 3. ORIENTAL PRESTIGE, 1. SINO BRILHANTE & 6. GAUTENG
S2-6 Sand Mile
VICTORY ADMIRAL, a sand track specialist and winner of this race last term, had one month let-up before resuming on turf last time, where he did well to last until the final 200m and not far off the place-getters on the rain-affected track. Should come out of the race a better horse to make him a leading contender.
LUEN YAT EVERWIN, which broke the track record recently, had 5 wins on the course-and-distance and is a specialist sand tracker. The consistent performer scored second over the insufficient trip of 1350m and should be a force to be reckoned with.
FANTASTICPRIVILEGE showed signs of revival when he finished his race off strongly against track bias last time out. Sand track should suit and a good chance if it favours late closers on the day.
GEELY SPIRIT won his last two starts convincingly. The progressive 4yo should pose a strong threat if well placed in the race.
SELECTIONS: 2. VICTORY ADMIRAL, 1. LUEN YAT EVERWIN, 6. FANTASTICPRIVILEGE & 7. GEELY SPIRIT
TREBLE SELECTIONS (8 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 4. MASTER OF PUPPETS & 3. LUCKY AND WEALTHY
S2-5: Multiple – 5. BELGRADE NIGHTS & 3. ORIENTAL PRESTIGE
S2-6: Multiple – 2. VICTORY ADMIRAL & 1. LUEN YAT EVERWIN
 Macau Expert - Joseph |
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| With over 15 years of experience in racing journalism, Joseph has joined the ranks of the Hong Kong press as a Macau racing correspondent since 1999, and now as part of the Hong Kong Daily News talent. On top of being a Macau racing expert, Joseph has also been following the international scene avidly with a professional touch, particularly in 2001, when he defeated competitors from all over the world to triumph in the on-line Emirates World Series Fantasy Challenge, while regularly being a leading contender in various MJC tipsters’ contests through the years. | |
Expert Column for Macau Hong Kong Trophy Day (Joseph)
S2-1 Grand Lisboa Cup
As the daily MJC penetrometer still indicates a heavy going at compilation on Thursday, with rain still on the menu for Sunday, the turf is presumably on the bogging side. ELDERLY PARADISE, the highest-rated runner in Macau, heads this field while turning back in distance. He has yet shown the best of him in the barrier trial since returning from a great campaign in Dubai; but with his class, a 15-pound penalty still cannot stop him from winning with the best chance.
Defending champion DR SWEET gets Matthew Chadwick again in the saddle for this outing; though he might not get to dictate in front as easy as last season since there are a few front-runners in the race, he did score in this campaign by stalking beautifully at third or fourth positions early. With a great post position to facilitate his plan A, B or C at disposal, he is a choice to key on.
Meanwhile, stablemate MY DARK CHOCOLATE came back with DR SWEET for a quinella last season, and there is frankly little, if not nothing, in between these two. This trip is slightly short for MY DARK CHOCOLATE, yet with the heavy going, he can just sit back and wait for the hot early pace to break apart before getting them from off the pace, and once again try a one-two punch with DR SWEET.
Former ballot griffin NORTHERN CHAMPION is gradually coming back to form, with a fifth-place effort last time out against decent opposition - and the top-4 finishers that have all stepped up this big weekend in either the Macau Hong Kong Trophy or the Macau Derby. A rider switch to Australian Ronnie Stewart, formerly riding in Singapore, will certainly be a fit to help him hit the board.
SELECTIONS: 1. ELDERLY PARADISE, 2. DR SWEET, 3. MY DARK CHOCOLATE & 6. NORTHERN CHAMPION
S2-2 Macau Hong Kong Trophy
On this off-going debut over 1800 metres last time out, OAKCREST DRIVE simply blew the door wide open on his opposition, and is clearly a heavy-going specialist. A turn-back to 1500 metres falls right into his game, and he should easily defend this main event for the home side.
ORIENTAL TASTE presumably would lead Gary Moore's three-pronged attack in this race, while of his two speedy stablemates breaking from stalls one and two, ABSOLUTELY WIN will use his blinding speed to make the running as far as he can, and GOOD UNCLE, another brilliant individual on heavy goings, will give OAKCREST DRIVE a race to the finish.
For a pair of Hong Kong invaders, front-runner REAL SUPREME unfortunately draws wide, whose chance would get slightly hurt; rather, NOBLE ALPHA who races off the pace, had been racing regularly on natural, heavy goings in Germany, while his all-weather form in Hong Kong is also a notch above, and should be an option for the exotics.
As this is the first leg of the Double Trio, LUCKY JAI, last year’s Group 1 Macau Guineas winner over the same distance, should also be considered as part of the selections.
SELECTIONS: 7. OAKCREST DRIVE, 2. ABSOLUTELY WIN, 9.GOOD UNCLE & 4. NOBLE ALPHA
S2-3 Chairman’s Challenge Cup
High-rated entries would certainly get the upper hand in this set-weight event, and my first choice goes to THE LUCKY STEED, the third-place finisher in the 2011 Hong Kong Macau Trophy. Shelved for the entire 2011-12 season, this individual came right back after a 16-month lay-off with a game fourth-place effort over the same distance in December, who has then been training up to this outing after another brilliant performance in February, just short of catching Macau Hong Kong Trophy starter ORIENTAL TASTE. As yet another heavy-going specialist with a decent stall assignment, he deserves a chance to win.
LUCK OF SMILING, rated second only to ELDERLY PARADISE in Macau, races better on sand than on turf. That being said, in a set-weight outing such as this, his class simply rules. Apprentice Charles Perkins does not have a weight allowance here, yet he is just a fit when partnering with this horse last time out, and will give THE LUCKY STEED a dog-fight down the lane.
Apart from the two main choices above, LUCK SAN, HAPPY PROPOSAL, JUST IN TIME, POWER ALKHAFIF, PRECIOUS ECLAIR and EASY MONEY can be considered for the Double Trio, particularly in LUCK SAN and HAPPY PROPOSAL, a pair of beaten favourites upon their Taipa debut last time out, but should improve off those warm-up efforts.
HAPPY PROPOSAL, a first-timer last out over 1400 metres, was more than a handful early before breaking completely into pieces. Turning back this time around with a different running style, he is a legitimate suspect to turn the tables. Meanwhile, LUCK SAN, racing for the same connections of LUCK OF SMILING, was previously stakes-placed against listed company over heavy goings in Australia. Drawn for a better post position this time, he should be a prospect on his way up.
SELECTIONS: 2. THE LUCKY STEED, 1. LUCK OF SMILING, 5. HAPPY PROPOSAL & 3. LUCK SAN
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-2: Banker – 7. OAKCREST DRIVE
Selections – 2. ABSOLUTELY WIN, 4. NOBLE ALPHA, 6. LUCKY JAI & 9. GOOD UNCLE
S2-3: Banker – 2. THE LUCKY STEED & 1. LUCK OF SMILING
Selections – 3. LUCK SAN, 5. HAPPY PROPOSAL, 6. JUST IN TIME, 8. POWER ALKHAFIF, 10. PRECIOUS ECLAIR & 12. EASY MONEY
S2-4 Macau Derby
Dodging the Macau Guineas – the first jewel of the Macau Triple Crown – for instead a mere 1800-metre contest, LUENYAT BLACKBERRY, though finishing only third behind OAKCREST DRIVE last time out, has his pipes opened up to go long. An inside post would help him use some of his speed and race prominently through the early markers; having said that, as one of the only few proven winners in this field over the same distance, he should be the top choice.
THE DRUNK BIRD was compromised from clobbering stablemate MASTER OF PUPPETS last time out in the Macau Guineas while stumbling midway through contention. This individual has previously landed a respectable effort against older horses in the Group 2 Winter Trophy over the same distance, and it remains interesting to see if the real version of him shows up on Sunday with Olivier Doleuze, the Derby-winning rider from last year, up in the saddle.
Meanwhile, though making his debut at this distance on Sunday, MASTER OF PUPPETS did for once led almost all the way over 1950 metres and held on for a placing this season. With his prominent running style, it should not be too surprising for him to make every step a winning one.
MAGIC FALCON closed gamely for a third-place finish last time out in the Macau Guineas, and proved he can handle off goings via that performance. Having earlier success over the same distance this campaign, he can once again hit the board from further back.
SELECTIONS: 7. LUENYAT BLACKBERRY, 6. THE DRUNK BIRD, 4. MASTER OF PUPPETS & 9. MAGIC FALCON
S2-5 Sand Classic Cup
Several three and four year olds simply towers above the rest of the field in this contest. In particular, top-rated SINO BRILHANTE broke the Taipa record to score over the same distance in two starts back before a disappointing fourth-place blunder against LUCK OF SMILING last time out. However, partnering with K.M. Chin, returning to the saddle after injuries, while ridden rather too conservatively through the early goings, he has a case in that specific outing with circumstances simply leaving him too much to do when LUCK OF SMILING just scooted away down the stretch. Breaking from out wide this time around with clear sails right from the go, he can stalk just behind the front-running GRUENFELD – presumably an individual that has seen the best of his days – and can simply cruise to the lead when the pace up front breaks apart.
BELGRADE NIGHTS has been part of the quinella at 1500 metres; with his rating worthy of a berth in the Macau Derby, his connections rather opts for a drop in class such as this, an easy route so to speak in trying to score over the same distance back-to-back. Winning with reserve through last two starts, a stakes debut against Group company should not be a big issue for this individual, who has every legitimate chance to strike here.
As a non-factor against BELGRADE NIGHTS last time out, TIN ALLOY had some excuses in that race by breaking slowly from the gate. Should he deliver a similar performance in beating Macau Guineas champion MASTER OF PUPPETS early this season, he should be a live longshot to turn the tables.
For the exotics, defending champion LIVING PEGASUS, distance specialist ORIENTAL PRESTIGE and the resurging GIANT STEPS can be considered, in which my preference goes to the more consistent ORIENTAL PRESTIGE.
SELECTIONS: 1. SINO BRILHANTE, 5. BELGRADE NIGHTS, 9. TIN ALLOY & 3. ORIENTAL PRESTIGE
S2-6 Sand Mile
VICTORY ADMIRAL and WORLD FORTUNE, the one-two finishers of the 2012 Sand Mile, are not peaking in form, whereas my top choice instead goes to POWER REGIMENTAL. Finishing just fifth over the same distance in February – his worst sand performance to date, this individual returns with a gem of a barrier trial this Tuesday after a brief lay-off, showing more progress against fellow entry WORLD FORTUNE and top-rated ELDERLY PARADISE. Having yet to finish worse than fifth through 11 starts on sand at Taipa, this is a pricey win/place choice sitting on a big performance.
As the only horse to deck ELDERY PARADISE at Taipa this season, LUEN YAT EVERWIN has strut his stuff in landing that blow right at this same distance. Penalized with the top weight in this contest, he still out-classes this field by a big margin, while the only concern is his alternating past performance, never quite able to land back-to-back placings on the board after bleeding. With prohibitive support on raceday, this over-priced top entry can only be my second pick at best.
Though finishing nowhere near LUCK OF SMILING last time out over 1350 metres, BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY somehow managed to hook back and edged out stablemate SINO BRILHANTE to hit the board after fading briefly at mid-stretch in that outing. This game mare at the moment has previously scored over the same distance on dirt through her overseas campaign; should she take the game to the field early, she should be a formidable threat.
With his versatile running style, iron horse FANTASTICPRIVILEGE, a consistent, tough customer all along so to speak, is poised shrewdly to pick up the pieces should the opposition falls apart, and it will not be all that surprising for him to complete the tierce.
SELECTIONS: 4. POWER REGIMENTAL, 1. LUEN YAT EVERWIN, 5. BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY & 6. FANTASTICPRIVILEGE
TREBLE SELECTIONS (18 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 4. MASTER OF PUPPETS, 6. THE DRUNK BIRD & 7. LUENYAT BLACKBERRY
S2-5: Multiple – 1. SINO BRILHANTE & 5. BELGRADE NIGHTS
S2-6: Multiple – 1. LUEN YET EVERWIN, 4. POWER REGIMENTAL & 5. BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY
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