A quick thinking move by jockey Manoel Nunes sealed victory for the Victor Chan trained Obrigado Mais in the Group 2 Spring Trophy run over 1500 metres at the Taipa racetrack on Saturday.

Sent out as equal favorite with the Peter Leyshan prepared Krystrump, Obrigado Mais was put into a great spot in the run in fifth place one off the fence as the field thundered into the back. However by the six hundred metre point Nunes had a lap full of horse under him and was on the back of runners that were soon going to be giving ground.

In a quick move Nunes peeled out and sprinted quickly around the bend for home and was in full flight to sweep by the leaders at the two hundred. Obrigado Mais crossed the line with a length and a quarter to spare over the fast finishing Krystrump (Wayne Smith) who was again a little unlucky in the run, with Turquoise Power (Roger Yu) running in third.

The win capped off the successful return to Macau racing for Nunes who was full of praise for the grey gelding after the race.

“This is a brilliant horse he is just flying.”

“After riding him work he gave me so much confidence going into the race. He is a horse you can put anywhere in a race.” Nunes said.

“I was in a great position early but down the side I wanted to improve and the horses I was following where not going to take me into the race. I had Wayne (Smith) on the other favorite Krystrump on my inside and I thought if he is lucky and gets a run through I’m in trouble, so it was better I got moving.”

“The horse sprinted beautifully and as it turned out Krystrump was held up so we were lucky.”

Saturday’s win by Obrigado Mais made three straight wins for the grey son of Husson (Arg) who has been a real find for his owner Mr. Tam Vai Lam a longtime supporter of the Macau Jockey Club.

Obrigado Mais is Portuguese for “thank you more,“ and Mr. Tam certainly has plenty to be thankful for with seven wins and two placings from his 15 runs in Macau by Obrigado Mais, including a win on International Day last January in the International Mixed Doubles Challenge Plate. After Saturday’s win Obrigado Mais earned close to $2 million in prize money in the enclave.

Expensive Australian purchase Cathy’s Star scored his maiden win in Saturday’s second feature of the day the Singapore Turf Club Goodwill Cup over 1200 metres.

Ridden by Luis Corrales Cathy’s Star enjoyed the run of the race before hitting the line strongly to beat the fast finishing Northern Legend (Manoel Nunes), with Tuhao Power (Ruan Maia) running in third.

Cathy’s Star is by the former Australian World Champion Three Year Old Sprinter in Sepoy, from the Made Of Gold mare Academy Idol, who is the dam of Meryl the winner of the B J McLachlan (Group 3) at Doomben. The now four year old gelding was purchased for A $460,000 dollars at the 2015 Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling Sale no doubt as a stallion prospect.

Cathy’s Star commenced his racing career as Mandolize under Gerald Ryan at Rosehill. From seven starts he managed four placed efforts at tracks like Gosford and Newcastle before he was gelded and sold onto Macau.

Now in the care of last year’s champion trainer Sio Cheong, Cathy’s Star has managed a win and three placed efforts from only four starts in the enclave, and has proven himself just as adept on the sand surface.

The win was part of a winning treble on the day for Luis Corrales who later scored on Master Of Cheers for the combined stable of Rambo Tse and K C Wong in the Class 3 & 4 over 1500 metres, and also Thar for trainer Danny Wong in the last of the day the Class 2 & 3 over 1200 metres.

Irish import Benson rewarded his connections and trainer Peter Leyshan with their patience with a superb all the way win in the Class 4 over 1800 metres.

Taken straight to the front by jockey Peter Ho, Benson was rated to perfection before sprinting away at the top of the straight for an easy win.

It’s been tough road for Benson who arrived in Macau with solid form over the sprinting distances in the United Kingdom. From 11 starts there when prepared by Lambourn based Charles Hills, Benson racing as Menai won two races and placed a further six times.

Since arriving in Macau in January of last year it’s been tough going for the son of Dark Angel (Ire) but according to Peter Leyshan there have been legitimate excuses.

“We bought him out of the UK as a 1200 metre sprint horse.”

“He is a big striding horse and with the speed in the races here he was having trouble getting around the tight turns and was speedy cutting himself.”

“We decided we would try to step him up in distance where the tempo was slower and he could get balanced in his stride and give him more confidence.”

“Peter (Ho) gave him a lovely ride and he has pulled up with his legs clean so it was a great result.”

Benson with plenty of authority Saturday and on his time will have no trouble progressing up through the ranks over the longer distances.