Oscar Chavez wasted no time getting on the scoreboard again in Macau with a dashing win on the heavily bet Joe Lau trained Mr. Singh on Friday nights mixed turf and sand card.

Chavez, who has long been one of Singapore and Malaysia’s most successful riders, last rode in Macau for part of the 2005 racing season kicking home 41 winners. Currently on a visiting license until February 18, Chavez is sure to find himself in popular demand for his stay.

Mr. Singh proved to be a lucky late pickup ride for Chavez after Irish rider Wayne Smith came down with a bout of Pneumonia, and the Panamanian born horseman certainly made the most of it.

In a fast run race Mr. Singh was posted out wide in the run from his wide barrier of 11. Taking the option of coming back to find cover was not going to work on the sand mid race, so Chavez wisely let the son of Exceed And Excel (Aus) balance up and travel well in run albeit wide. Once in the straight Chavez still in sixth spot set sail after the leader The Pirate King. In full flight Mr. Singh hit the line hard to beat The Pirate King (Martin Wepner) by a length and a quarter, with Tyson (Luis Corrales) running on for third.

The win also rekindled a long standing friendship with Chavez and Joe Lau who have been friends since the early 90’s when Lau was a jockey in Malaysia and Chavez the leading rider.

Mr. Singh is a much traveled racehorse who started his racing career in Germany as Plus Night. After a win at Mulheim racetrack from three starts in Germany, the then colt was shipped to the UK where he placed at Lingfield, Kempton and Chelmsford City. Whilst he was no superstar the colt was consistent and managed a win and five placings from seven starts.

Friday night’s run was the fourth for the Joe Lau stable with Lau stating the horse has taken a little time to settle in.

“He has just taken awhile to acclimatize and also we gelded him after a couple of runs and he is more focused now I feel” Lau said.

“The blinkers I think helped a lot and they went a bit hard up front so that suited him and he finished the race off well.”

Contented N Happy from the Peter Leyshan yard was another impressive winner on Friday night when he came with a powerful run down the outside to win the Class 2 & 3 over 1500 metres (turf) under jockey Peter Ho.

In a good quality race Contented N Happy in a typical patient Peter Ho ride, came from well back in the race to score from Spring Thunder (Roger Yu), with Roaring Star (Breinell Yamzon) running on for third.

The hard luck story of the race was the $1.8 favorite Achilles Sword who was given the box seat run by Manoel Nunes, but found himself locked up in the straight behind race leader Rocket Along and held there by Capital Protector (Andrew Calder). Whilst all that was playing out Spring Thunder got rolling and then was taken out late by Contented N Happy.

Contented N Happy a son of Foxwedge (Aus) has now won three races in Macau all under Peter Ho who gets along superbly with the bay entire. Ho gives him plenty of time to settle early and that allows him to really finish his races off in good fashion.

The Whirlwind lived right up to his name when he swept down the outside to win the last of the night the Class 1 & 2 over 1050 metres.

Ridden by Brazilian rider Ruan Maia, The Whirlwind came from well back in the run to flash on by of the speedsters Emperor King and Victory Megastar to win from another back marker Gem Eagle (Oscar Chavez), with Victory Megastar (Martin Wepner) holding on for third.

Prepared by Stanley Chin, The Whirlwind is a USA bred racehorse that commenced his career in the UK as Global Explorer, winning at Kempton and Wolverhampton before being exported to Macau.

Friday night’s victory gave the seven year old son of Henrythenavigator (USA) his fifth win in Macau with a further 19 placed efforts and prize money to date of $2.6 million HKD.