 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)
S1-1 Grand Lisboa Palace Cup
Beaten just half a length by YANG JIANG STAR over the same distance earlier this season, CHROMIUM ALLOY was yet again placed in a key 1,500m contest last start. With more than a month’s lay-off, he has been cranked up in the mornings, and continues to partner with H Lam. This freshened individual will be a major contender in the race.
Though gracing the winner’s circle on three counts last season, YANG JIANG STAR has been rather inconsistent. After a good performance earlier this season, he failed to hit the board again in his last three starts; that being said, a strong rally last time out at 1,500m might prompt yet another reversal in from, and he will improve stretching out this Saturday.
TURQUOISE POWER, who prevailed in the 2016 Macau Derby with Joao Moreira aboard, has then been in a slump until reaching the second half of this season. A 1,800m winner two starts back, he managed to finish second last time out at 1,500m, yet back-to-back appearances in April may have made quite a tired horse out of him.
KING CREOLE, a winner last time out over the same distance – that being his second score this season – beat quite a quality group, in particular third-placed RIVER TREASURE, who then went on to strike in the Macau G1 Macau Guineas. With a short lay-off, he will be in the mix.
PAULSON, who was struggling through his first quintet of starts on sand, finally found his true calling on turf while winning on 4th February, and has then scored back-to-back with still some gas in the tank. Compromised on heavy goings last time out, he is still an improving 3YO that cannot be under-estimated.
RIVER CONTROL, a frequent place-getter this season, is a nice gelding that really has heart, and is poised for yet another good performance.
SELECTIONS: 4. CHROMIUM ALLOY, 2. YANG JIANG STAR, 1. TURQUOISE POWER, 3. KING CREOLE & 9. PAULSON
S1-2 Grand Lisboa Cup
PERFECT ALLOY, a four-time winner that further ran third in the Macau Derby last season, hit a career-high rating of 103. Just beaten in the Macau G2 Spring Trophy three starts back, this classy gelding was compromised on soft goings last time out. Given a better turf strip, he will be the one to beat.
OH SO EASY, who held off LUCKY WINSTON at 1,500m over yielding to soft ground earlier this season, lost some consistency briefly, but then regained his form again, having placed in his last two outings. This bay gelding acts better on gooey turf and with Zac Purton aboard, he will be hard to catch if his competition let him loose up front.
Former Macau Derby hero LUCK AND WEALTHY has seen his better days at Taipa; yet breaking from barrier 1 this time – and with Joao Moreira’ service – he could be an intriguing prospect to place.
Having scored twice in Class 2 and 3 earlier this season, NORTHERN LEGEND, then unplaced while facing tougher opposition, was still just steps away from hitting the board. Working aggressively in the mornings after a three-month lay-off, and should the higher-rated entries make a bad move, he will be right there to pick up the pieces.
Meanwhile, the competitive HOPEFULLY TOMORROW has been quite consistent on turf, and will be forwardly placed. Whereas LUCKY WINSTON, with a few consecutive hard races packed in him, is further compromised by a bad post, and is at best a chance to place.
SELECTIONS: 1. PERFECT ALLOY, 3. OH SO EASY, 5. LUCKY AND WEALTHY, 6. NORTHERN LEGEND & 7. HOPEFULLY TOMORROW
S1-3 Macau Hong Kong Trophy
2016 Macau G1 Macau Guineas hero KELOWNA STAR, stacking up a 1-2-2-1 record through seven starts, has been quite consistent to date, and ran a respectable second three starts back while tracking roughly a length behind BOBO SO CUTE in the Macau G2, 1,500m Spring Trophy. With adequate rest after yet another placed performance last time out, he has been working beautifully in the mornings, and should be a solid placing chance that looks forward to score.
Finishing second respectively behind DASHING FELLOW and BEST OF LUCK in the home and away legs of this same series back in 2016, THE ALFONSO, already a two-time winner through this season, ran fifth recently in the G3 Centenary Vase over 1,800m at Sha Tin on 5th February, and has been training up since his return to Taipa for this Saturday’s feature without another start.
BOBO SO CUTE struck fast in the Macau G2, 1,500m Spring Trophy three starts back, then suddenly ran an inexplicable clunker last time out – a race that indeed should be thrown out, as he has been training full well for this Saturday.
Having ran a close second behind forthcoming G1 Hong Kong Mile winner BEAUTY ONLY in the G2, 1,600m BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin back earlier in November, ROMANTIC TOUCH has simply a good deal of class, and loves firm turf. Should the track at Taipa remains in good shape comes Saturday, he is definitely one of the major contenders.
MARVEL HERO, another three-time winner at Happy Valley this season, would feel a tight strip as Taipa similar. With Joao Moreira in the irons, this is another dangerous invader from Hong Kong.
SELECTIONS: 7. KELOWNA STAR, 1. THE ALFONSO, 4. BOBO SO CUTE & 2. ROMANTIC TOUCH
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-3:
Banker – 7. KELOWNA STAR
Selections – 1. THE ALFONSO, 4. BOBO SO CUTE, 2. ROMANTIC TOUCH & 3. MARVEL HERO
S1-4:
Banker – 1. OBRIGADO MAIS
Selections – 3. RIVER TREASURE, 5. ECLAIR JOURNEY, 2. WICHITA LINESMAN & 8. CHOK KING
S1-4 Macau Derby
With a pair of scores on sand since his debut at Taipa, then striking again in a Class 2, 1,500m turf event, OBRIGADO MAIS has shown plenty of versatility to act on both strips well. Then with an eventful trip last time out, when he abruptly faded midway through contention, and then re-rallied in the final stages to finish sixth in the Macau G1 Macau Guineas, this individual still has class, and will be trying in his earnest to win under Joao Moreira.
Capitalizing on a soft track, RIVER TREASURE blew up the tote-board to score a stunning upset last time out in the Macau G1 Macau Guineas. Should rain drench the turf strip this Saturday, he will be dangerous again.
Having finished second twice in a pair of Class 2, 1,500m contests back in January, in particular a gallant effort, just half a length behind OBRIGADO MAIS, the amazingly competitive ECLAIR JOURNEY has hit the board again in both his previous outings, and will try to turn the table against OBRIGADO MAIS.
WICHITA LINESMAN, who graduated in a Class 2, 1,500m turf event off only his second start at Taipa, then stepped up successfully to strike in the Macau G3, 1,500m 4YO Prelude; nevertheless, he has yet to make another start, and has been slightly backward in training.
CHOK KING, an improving gelding that ran a thriller against WICHITA LINESMAN in the Macau G3, 1,500m 4YO Prelude on 11th March, then finished ahead of OBRIGADO MAIS last time out in the Macau G1 Macau Guineas; again, this individual is looking forward to a good turf strip to deliver his best.
Graduating at Taipa through a mixed Class 2 & 3 event at 1,500m on turf two starts back, SACRED MAN in fact ran faster than the Class 1 & 2 counterparts over the same distance on the day. Though stretching out in distance this Saturday, he gets Zac Purton to call the shots in the saddle, and rates a good fighting chance.
SELECTIONS: 1. OBRIGADO MAIS, 3. RIVER TREASURE, 5. ECLAIR JOURNEY, 2. WICHITA LINESMAN & 8. CHOK KING
S1-5 Chairman's Challenge Cup
Victorious in three of his five appearance this season, including a score in the Macau G3 Macau Sprint Trophy, SPARTA had then no luck venturing at Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Macau Trophy on 5th March. Training up for this contest, he has been impressive in the mornings as of late, and is one of the major contenders.
MISTER KAOPU, who annihilated his competition over 1,100m on turf – off only his second start at Taipa – then stepped up further to strike against Class 2 opposition at 1,200m. A four-time winner in Macau to date on a two-race winning streak over the same distance, he has rested well, he has been training well, and though breaking from a tricky stall, Joao Moreira should mitigate some of that disadvantage – and help him get in the mix.
Striking right on his Taipa debut in a Class 2, 1,200m turf event, flaunting two lengths easily ahead of MISTER KAOPU in that winning performance, HOSTWIN GALAXY had simply been unstoppable off yet another pair of 1,500m scores on turf, and can be excused on the soft goings last time out. Should the strip be in good shape, he should regain his winning form.
Tagging his second victory at Taipa two starts back at 1,200m against a mixed Class 1 & 2 field, the consistent HUKA EAGLE can also blame his blunder last time out over longer distance and soft going, and should at least be a placing chance this Saturday.
HAPPY ROARING, who ran second, beaten just half a length by HUKA EAGLE upon his cut-back attempt at 1,200m last time out, also stands for contention.
Meanwhile, having finished a respectable second in the Macau G3, 1,200m Macau Sprint Trophy three starts back, RIVER BOBO is also quite a deep turf talent. Beautifully drawn to break from stall 4, he will also be forwardly placed.
SELECTIONS: 3. SPARTA, 4. MISTER KAOPU, 6. HOSTWIN GALAXY, 7. HUKA EAGLE & 10. HAPPY ROARING
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-5: Multiple – 3. SPARTA, 4. MISTER KAOPU & 6. HOSTWIN GALAXY
S1-6: Multiple – 1. PAK LOK ANGEL, 7. DUTCH INTERIOR & 3. SHENG LI WIN
S1-7: Multiple – 4. VICTORY MEGASTAR, 3. INVINCIBLE & 10. ASHKARI
S1-6 Sand Specialist Stakes
PAK LOK ANGEL, who ran second in this same event last year, out-stayed a more youthful OBRIGADO MAIS two starts back at 1,350m, and still has some fight in him. Stretching out to 1,510m this Saturday – a more preferable trip to his liking – he will definitely get a further boost from Joao Moreira in the reins, and hopefully give KING OF REALESTATE a race to the wire.
Having placed upon his season debut, and except for a bad trip on 10th February, DUTCH INTERIOR has otherwise been fairly consistent. Off another laudable effort at 1,510m, he gunned down MY DREAM over the same distance two starts back, and then still rallied respectably while cutting back to 1,350m last time out.
Defending champion SHENG LI WIN has been lackluster this season; benefiting from a short lay-off, he could be well freshened up for a surprise.
With a recent speed bias on the sand strip, the flamboyant RED DRAGON will certainly use his blistering speed up front – and hope to stay there for as long as he can.
Meanwhile, with a dozen scores on sand to his credit, MY DREAM, an 8YO veteran, is still as competitive as he has been.
SELECTIONS: 1. PAK LOK ANGEL, 7. DUTCH INTERIOR, 3. SHENG LI WIN, 5. RED DRAGON & 6. MY DREAM
S1-7 Sand Classic Cup
VICTORY MEGASTAR, who cleared the field in a Class 2, 1,350m sand contest upon his seasonal debut, nearly made every stride a winning one again in his next appearance – until the final stages – while stretching out to 1,510m. He has then been training up – with a few key moves clocked in the morning – for this contest.
Starting his 2015-16 campaign on a winning note, the aptly-named INVINCIBLE continued to dominate his competition through the initial quartet of starts at 1,050m on sand. Dropping a neck decision in a Class 2 contest on 15th January, he regained his winning form through the two previous starts, including a 3 ¼ length romp last time out – yet again at 1,050m on sand. With altogether an eye-popping 6-1-0 record through seven starts to date, this event will be a challenge for him as it is his first attempt stretching out to 1,350m; however, if he catches a fast, tightened track that favours speed on Saturday, that will be a huge plus.
ASHKARI, finishing third in this contest last season, did not enjoy the best of trips, when he was forced to make several moves through contention. Beaten twice further by KING OF REALESTATE this season, he finally weaved his way back to the winner’s circle in a Class 2, 1,350m event last time out, and such recent form should stand him a good chance just in time.
With a good fifth-place effort in a 1,500m turf event for Class 1 & 2 entries in January, one that sets him up perfectly for better things to come, ADVANCE MISSION then won progressively in a Class 2, 1,510m sand contest, and another 1,350m sand clash between Class 1 & 2 incumbents. Altogether stacking up seven scores on sand to date, this specialist is definitely a strong contender here.
Meanwhile, GEM EAGLE has clearly shown his exclusive penchant for the 1,350m trip, running second upon his second outing this season – that being also his distance debut – then winning right back next time out, and further checking in second again while stepping up against Class 1 & 2 opposition.
EVERGREEN STAR has been a much better individual on sand this season, including a nice victory over INVINCIBLE on 15th January. Yet again wiring home all the way in a Class 2, 1,050m sand contest last time out, this progressive gelding is really coming of age.
SELECTIONS: 4. VICTORY MEGASTAR, 3. INVINCIBLE, 10. ASHKARI, 1. ADVANCE MISSION & 5. GEM EAGLE
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