River Treasure has confirmed his place in the 26^th running of the SJM Macau Derby with upset win in the Group 1 Macau Guineas, over 1500 metres at the Taipa racetrack on Saturday.

Ridden by Filipino jockey Martin Cangas, River Treasure starting at odds on $637.000 for the win powered home in the centre of the track to beat 45/1 shot Californiatreasure (Ryan Curatolo), with the 16/1 pop Éclair Journey (Akash Aucharuz) running on strongly from the back for third.

The result proved a complete wipe out for punters who only really had eyes for the top two rated gallopers in Obrigado Mais (Wayne Smith) and Hostwin Galaxy (Martin Wepner), with some late support coming for Wudang Mountain (Peter Ho)

The win by River Treasure gave trainer Sio Cheong and Martin Cangas their first Group 1 victory and the first leg of the Macau Triple Crown.

A son of Savabeel (Aus) from the Pins (Aus) mare Dita Von Teese, River Treasure has always proved handy enough for his owner Mr. King Ho winning five races prior to Saturday, and placing a further 12 times from his 33 starts. That said class wise Saturday’s Guineas looked a bit out of his depth given that the gelding was close to his peak rating at 69, and had not won since November of last year when he took out a 1600 metre Class 3 event on the sand.

The saving grace for River Treasure however came in the way of the rain through the week, capped off by a quick downpour the morning of the races. On a track riding the worst side of soft, River Treasure relished the ground and came from the tail of the field at the eight hundred with a long sustained run wide out to score.

River Treasure was a $32,000 NZD purchase at the 2014 Karaka Premier Yearling sale. After Saturdays win the gelding has returned over $1.5 million HKD to connections.

Second placed Californiatreasure turned in a great effort for a horse considered suspect at the 1500 metres, however the 1800 metres of the Derby must remain a real question mark for him.

The eye catchers from the race from a Derby point of view were third placed Éclair Journey who stormed home from the back, after being held up twice in the run from the eight hundred point to the home corner when he needed to improve. And Obrigado Mais who was another that came from last on the home turn under Wayne Smith to flash down the outside to run sixth, only beaten four and a quarter lengths.

“He was not handling the ground he was going nowhere that’s why I pulled him out wide. Once he hit the better ground he was flying home.”

“He’ll be a great chance in the Derby.” Wayne Smith added.

Chok King (Ruan Maia) was another that ran home hard along the inside late to wind up in fifth spot beaten four lengths.

Hostwin Galaxy from the James Moore yard suffered only his second defeat in seven career starts and whilst he had a the box seat trail in the race for jockey Martin Wepner, looked uncomfortable on the soft ground and weakened late to finish in seventh place five lengths off them.

Connections will be hoping for plenty of sunshine leading up to the Derby for the son of Redoute’s Choice.

With Derby traditionally held in the month of April since its first running back in 1992, more often than not the rains have arrived and we have had a wet track for our biggest days racing which includes the Macau-Hong Kong Trophy. This year the MJC has moved the feature day back to the 20^th of May hoping to miss the spring rains and provide a level playing field. It’s a good move and similar to 2014 which seen Best Season take out the Derby on a good racing surface.

The Tony Fung prepared China Paradise ran his rivals off their legs in the days other feature on Saturday the Listed Lisboa Prelude over 1100 metres.

Ridden by Roger Yu, China Paradise burst out of the gates to take control of the race from the outset and was never in doubt scoring by two and a quarter lengths from Go Go Partners (Peter Ho), with Hugo And Barry (Ruan Maia) running on well for third.

China Paradise is an Australian import that began his career racing as Berri Cherry when prepared by Darren Weir. In three starts in Australia he only manage a second place at Bendigo, and ironically the three year olds only run on a heavy track there resulted in a last placing at Morphettville beaten over nine lengths. On Saturday the son of Red Arrow relished the very soft conditions and took his Macau record to two wins and two seconds from five starts.

China Paradise is the first Black Type winner for his sire the Group placed Red Arrow (Aus).

Later in the day Bow Noculars another son of Red Arrow went down narrowly in the last race to the Kim Cheong trained Capital Protector.

Ridden by Wayne Smith Capital Protector found the fast lane in the centre of the track to power home late to score by a neck from Bow Noculars (Peter Ho), with Wealthy East (Roger Yu) holding on for third.