 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. | |
Expert Column for Macau Hong Kong Trophy Day (S1) (Edmond Cheung)
Off an open-length victory over KELOWNA STAR, shortly afterwards another two-time winner, in a key race over the same distance and soft going on 3rd January, OH SO EASY would certainly love to have an off track to work with. Hong Kong’s prodigy Derek Leung has the mount this Sunday, and this partnership looks the most legitimate to reach the winner’s circle.
Aging veteran LUEN YAT FOREVER is still full of fight this season, and with speed horses to force the issue up front, he is definitely in the frame, and trying to go one further.
The versatile HAPPY PRODIGAL SON also has a solid form-line at the distance, and will be right there with his usual cruising speed.
1,500m specialist LUCKY WINSTON gets again his good partner W T Pao aboard, and is a good shot to hit the board.
Meanwhile, GOLDEN DOUBLE can manage a moderately soft or sticky track; with Joao Moreira getting the call, he is still a threat.
SELECTIONS: 1. OH SO EASY, 4. LUEN YAT FOREVER, 2. HAPPY PRODIGAL SON, 5. LUCKY WINSTON & 3. GOLDEN DOUBLE
MASTER OF PUPPETS rated locally at 116 – a whopping 21 points over VALIANT SOLDIER, classified second-best in this level-weight contest by all means, towers above the field. With a sticky track in play, and the well-acquainted Ryan Curatolo aboard, he is the horse to beat.
Lightly-raced with just two overseas starts, private purchase MASTER OF ASSAYER has still plenty of upside on deck – which in time does he materialize, leapfrogging by each outing at Taipa. Off a key victory last out over MY LUCKY BABY, another top-class distance specialist through the years, this upstart has recency to take on his competition.
VALIANT SOLDIER represented Macau at Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Macau Trophy this season, and definitely has class; partnering with Olivier Doleuze this Sunday, he will be in the mix.
RAYDEN is simply a full head of steam on his “A” game this season, and it will not be surprising to see his number on the board.
On the other hand, the soft-loving MY LUCKY BABY and HAPPY CASH can also capitalize on the goings, and complete the quartet.
SELECTIONS: 1. MASTER OF PUPPETS, 4. MASTER OF ASSAYER, 2. VALIANT SOLDIER, 11. RAYDEN & 7. MY LUCKY BABY
Though with his three-race-winning streak snapped last out, a fourth-place effort – while both stretching out to 1,500m and stepping up into G1 event – was already more than respectable for MACAU LIGHTNING. Dropping in class against much more favourable opposition this time, he only needs a good trip to return to his winning ways.
CHROMIUM ALLOY, entered on the same day as MACAU LIGHTNING last out – but in another 1,500m contest, missed the break entirely, yet could still rush up late to check in fourth-best. Banking on his usual late speed and a gear change this time out, a good break certainly helps on his chances.
BRAVE FLYING HAWK, off his 1,500m debut last out – the same occasion when CHROMIUM ALLOY finished fourth – did not fade until hitting the 100m marker; with better pacing expected from Gavin Lerena, this individual looks forward to get a share of the purse.
Rallying strongly from way off the speed to finish second upon his sand debut over 1,350m, four-year-old private purchase HOPEFULLY TOMORROW should improve off that effort.
MISSION GDRAGON inevitably faded while racing three-deep with no coverage throughout his 1,500m debut two starts back; drawn beautifully this time, he should complete the ticket.
SELECTIONS: 8. MACAU LIGHTNING, 10. CHROMIUM ALLOY, 1. BRAVE FLYING HAWK, 12. HOPEFULLY TOMORROW & 3. MISSION GDRAGON
Off a brilliant G2 Spring Trophy score in two starts back, SANDTOP was victimized by an ill-timed ride, surging way too late to settle for second behind KELOWNA STAR in the G1 Macau Guineas. Stretching back out to 1,800m certainly suits him, and with the well-acquainted W L Ho piloting as usual, this looks very much a Derby winner in the make.
BASEMENT has been quite a reinvention himself since turning four years of age; freshening up with a nice layoff after back-to-back scores on turf, he will be one of the main contenders.
Having aced SANDTOP twice since January, KELOWNA STAR certainly has class to spare, yet gear changes right on the eve of this big race is certainly a bothering signal, and looks vulnerable here.
PERFECT ALLOY surprisingly wired the field in a 1,500m turf contest two starts back – and in fact faster than KELOWNA STAR scored over the same distance in the G1 Macau Guineas. Stamina is certainly his big concern, yet with such high-octane speed on an off track, he still looks in every way a big threat.
Meanwhile, having aced his Taipa debut, TURQUOISE POWER, with Joao Moreira up, is also a legitimate choice.
SELECTIONS: 1. SANDTOP, 8. BASEMENT, 3. KELOWNA STAR, 10. PERFECT ALLOY & 5. TURQUOISE POWER
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-4: Banker – 1. SANDTOP
Selections – 8. BASEMENT, 3. KELOWNA STAR, 10. PERFECT ALLOY & 5. TURQUOISE POWER
S1-5: Banker – 9. BEST OF LUCK
Selections – 4. THE ALFONSO, 7. GREAT SPIRIT, 8. RIVER BOBO & 10. GOLD ALLOY
BEST OF LUCK has established his class on turf by gunning down a pair of top chargers at Taipa – SANDTOP and THE ALFONSO – in a key 1,500m contest back on 12th December, and clearly bounced in his off-the-board effort last out. Off more than a month’s layoff, he looks to be a much more stacked up individual to nail this prize.
THE ALFONSO, a consistent individual through his overseas roll, has missed the tote-board likewise once only since campaigning at Taipa, particularly on turf in 6 runs. Off an agonizingly close effort last out in the Hong Kong Macau Trophy at Sha Tin, he has comparable class to race with the Hong Kong elites. Returning to his home stance this Sunday with Louis Corrales in the saddle as usual, he rates as one of the major contenders.
GREAT SPIRIT, second-best in the 2015 edition of the Macau Hong Kong trophy, checks in town with better recency than GURUS DREAM, and is the leading shooter from Hong Kong.
RIVER BOBO ran well in most of his starts, and will be right there with his usual up-front speed.
Meanwhile, returning much later to the races this season, GOLD ALLOY is gradually coming back to form through a brief warm-up regime, and will move up on soft goings.
SELECTIONS: 9. BEST OF LUCK, 4. THE ALFONSO, 7. GREAT SPIRIT, 8. RIVER BOBO & 10. GOLD ALLOY
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-5: Multiple – 9. BEST OF LUCK, 4. THE ALFONSO & 7. GREAT SPIRIT
S1-6: Multiple – 4. ADVANCE MISSION, 5. PACERS BAHHARE & 10. MORE THAN HAPPY
S1-7: Multiple – 8. HARBOUR STAR, 5. VIGOR PARTNER & 6. ASHKARI
Two-for-two at 1,500m on sand to date, ADVANCE MISSION was particularly impressive in his dazzling score last out, and keeps packing good weight. Leonardo Salles is well familiar with this mount, and they look the part to go all the way.
PACERS BAHHARE, also perfect through two starts on sand this season – yet over 1,600m on both counts – is still versatile while cutting back to 1,500m, and gets an intriguingly new partner, Derek Leung from Hong Kong in the saddle.
MORE THAN HAPPY, a runaway winner over the same distance earlier this season, has still plenty of upside on deck at just four years of age, and should not be overlooked while returning to his winning trip this Sunday.
With a convincing score over the classy BEST OF LUCK at the same distance on 29th January, PAK LOK ANGEL proves to be a tough customer on sand. Wayne Smith, having partnered with this gelding on three trips to the winner’s circle last season, gets the call again, and looks solid in this field.
SHENG LI WIN, a consistent performer on sand, looks to move up with the services of Joao Moreira, while LUEN YAT EVERWIN, battling heads apart with none other than SHENG LI WIN on 29th January, has usual pilot Y M Choi aboard, and will be in the mix.
SELECTIONS: 4. ADVANCE MISSION, 5. PACERS BAHHARE, 10. MORE THAN HAPPY, 1. PAK LOK ANGEL & 3. SHENG LI WIN
Finishing first upon his Taipa debut at the distance, HARBOUR STAR was disqualified of that first-time-out score simply for interference. Then getting right back on track, having yet to finish worse than second through his previous 4 runs on sand, with furthermore a share of the purse last out in a G1 prize on turf, he definitely has recency on his side. Returning to his preferred 1,350m trip on sand this Sunday, this speed ball will get in the race early – and try to steal it right from the start.
VIGOR PARTNER, a tremendously consistent individual this season, will find 1,350m on sand right in the middle of his ball park, and with Louis Corrales returning for the ride, he is surely poised for another winning mount.
ASHKARI was more than a visually-improved open-length winner with the help of blinkers last time out, and still rates to be a big threat off short rest.
MY MASTERPIECE has been, in general, forwardly placed on sand, and his last out was simply a cross-out on heavy turf. Getting back on sand, and getting the services of Derek Leung this Sunday, he looks to be right there in contention again.
Meanwhile, rated fourth-best in this field without any high-weight in tow, THE WHIRLWIND simply gets a free-pass on class, and it will not be surprising to see this number on the board.
SELECTIONS: 8. HARBOUR STAR, 5. VIGOR PARTNER, 6. ASHKARI, 9. MY MASTERPIECE & 4. THE WHIRLWIND
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