Wonder Mossman the nine year old that refuses to accept retirement has chalked up his 17th race win in Macau, per medium of a beautiful Andrew Calder ride in Saturday’s Korea Racing Authority Trophy over 1200 metres (turf).

Calder’s brilliant horsemanship paved the way to victory for Macau’s iron horse that has twice been written off as a racing prospect.

No jockey positions his horses better in the run then Calder, and on Saturday he was at his best as he navigated a path across from barrier 12 to find cover in sixth spot one off the rails in a race run at a hectic pace, set up by Thar and Yang Jiang Hero.

On the corner Wonder Mossman was ready to pounce and found plenty of space when Thar rolled out around the turn, Calder then switched across his heels to power home along the inside rail to take the prize by a neck, from the fast finishing Krystrump (Wayne Smith), with Huka Eagle (Peter Ho) a half length away in third.

It was Calder’s first ride on the old warhorse and the New Zealand jockey was full of praise for the gelding after the Class 1 & 2 event.

“What a great old horse he is.”

“It was always going to be tough from that barrier and I was told to try and lead, but he had no chance of leading them with the speed that was in the race.”

“I had to switch across Thar’s heels at the top of the straight but is was just as well I did as Krystrump would have come through and got that run.” Calder added.

Calder stated that Wonder Mossman will now be aimed at the Group 2 Winter Trophy over 1800 metres on December 30th.

The bay gelding has three wins to his credit over the distance including two Macau Gold Cups (Group 1), whilst his other 1800 metre win was the Group 2 Winter Trophy in 2013 where he clocked 1.45.9, the fastest time recorded at the distance since Police’s dazzling 1.45.4 in 1997.

Trainer K C “Kit” Chong has done an amazing job with Wonder Mossman who has written off twice as a racing prospect after breaking down. His return after a six months layoff to lead all the way to win his third Macau Gold Cup in 2016 was nothing short of sensational, and he again bounced back after being written off on October 27th to win at 1200 metres in 1.07.7.

The hard luck story out of the race was the Peter Leyshan trained Krystrump who was impeded twice down the running and was literally jumping out of the ground the last fifty metres.

Lucky Winston was another that caught the eye from a Winter Trophy point of view. The seven year old came from last on the corner under Martin Wepner to finish fourth beaten one and a half lengths.

The bubble burst for the previously unbeaten Yang Jiang Hero who was looking to make it five straight wins in Macau. The run however was better then it looked, as he was part of solid speed duel with Thar where they carved out some pretty hot sectionals early. Add to that the gelding was up 21 pounds on his previous run and to be beaten only four lengths still had plenty of merit.

Early Derby favorite Pearl Green made it five wins on the trot with an easy victory in the Japan Racing Association Trophy over 1800 metres under regular jockey Ruan Maia.

Prepared by K H Leong, Pearl Green enjoyed the run of the race in third spot before taking over once heads were turned for home to race away for an easy win.

A four year old son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) Pearl Green has been a real find for owner Mr. Chan Ming Wing. The gelding was originally a $460,000 Aud. purchase at the 2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sales no doubt as a stallion prospect.

After two barrier trials at Randwick when prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the colt failed to measure up and he was subsequently gelded and exported to Macau. Pearl Green has now furnished into a lovely four year old. The gelding looks the perfect Derby type being able to take up a forward position and is now proven over the Derby distance of 1800 metres.

Pearl Green keeps rising to the occasion as he progresses up the ladder and after Saturday’s win he is now on a mark of 78 up 39 points on his original Macau rating of 39.

Ruan Maia booted home a double on the afternoon to take him to 20 winners and a clear lead in the rider’s standings.

Maia was successful in the opening event the Penang Turf Club Goodwill Trophy over 1200 metres on Winning Express for trainer K C Chong.

Winning Express came with a late surge to get up in a head bobbing finish to win by a nose from Kirin Wit (Luis Corrales), with Dencheng One (Ryan Curatolo) in third.

Last season’s leading trainer K H Leong finished the day off with a double to share training honors with K C Chong for the afternoon.

Lucky Mate ridding by Wayne Smith rounded off K H Leong’s day when he broke his maiden status in the last of the day the 0 to 55 3 & 4YO Handicap over 1200 metres.

It has taken eleven starts in Macau for the Australian import to crack his maiden win, however he did it in good fashion to race away in the straight and win by one and a half lengths from Big Alloy (Horace Lam), with Kelson (Ruan Maia) running in third.