繁體中文 / 简体中文
Racing Review
Romantic Touch Gives Cruz His Third Trophy
2018-03-05 by Harry Troy

Hong Kong’s Romantic Touch has given trainer Tony Cruz back to back Group 1 Macau – Hong Kong Trophies with a dominant win in the 15th running of the race over 1500 metres at the Taipa track on Sunday.

Ridden by Joao Moreira, Romantic Touch was sent straight to the front by the Magic Man who without the expected speed coming from Wonder Mossman was able to dictate the race to a nicety. Romantic Touch burst away from the opposition at the top of the straight to win by more than four lengths at the line from Macau’s Krystrump (Peter Ho), with the other Hong Kong galloper Caspar Fownes Marvel Hero running in third under Umberto Rispoli.

Tony Cruz has been one of the biggest supporters of the race since its inception back in 2004, and went into yesterday’s race supremely confident with the seven year old son of Northern Meteor (USA), even though he had not won a race since taking out last year’s Trophy in May.

In an interview at Wednesdays barrier draw Cruz was rapt to come up with gate two and said the following.

“Has traveled across to Macau very well and all the reports I’ve had tells me he is a very happy horse.”

“His latest run at Sha Tin when fifth behind Dundonnell over 1400 metres tells me that he is right back in form again at the right time.’

The victory also gave Cruz his third win in the race on the Macau side having won the second running of the race back in 2005 with the brilliant Helene Pillaging, who made a clean sweep of the Interport Series on both sides that year.

Cruz also joins Macau’s Joe Lau as the most successful trainers in the history of the race with four victories each in the event.

The K H Leong prepared Pearl Green sealed his spot as Derby favorite with an easy win in the Group 3 GEG Macau Derby Trial over 1500 metres on Sunday.

Ridden for the first time by Manoel Nunes, the four year old had the run of the race from barrier three before sweeping to the front at the two hundred for an emphatic victory to win by almost five lengths at the post.

Running home strongly wide out for second was the 100/1 longshot Spring Thunder (Horace Lam), who turned in a mighty run from a Derby viewpoint coming from the tail of the field, with the second favorite Unselfish Trust (Ruan Maia) holding on for third.

Pearl Green a son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) out of the Encosta De Lago mare The Hamptons, has now won six races including five in succession, and placed four times from only 11 starts in Macau. It’s an outstanding effort considering the gelding was not even considered worthy of a race start in Australia.

As a yearling colt Pearl Green was purchased for $460,000 Aud at the 2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sales no doubt as a stallion prospect. The then colt failed dismally in two barrier trials at Randwick for Gai Waterhouse before being gelded and banished to Macau. Eight months later the gelding made his debut in the enclave and despite racing very greenly produced a creditable effort to run home for third. Two runs after the bay started his brilliant run of five straight wins and it was obvious then that he was heading for the top of the class.

Going into yesterday’s race he had risen from his original 39 rating to a mark of 81. Given the ease of his win yesterday he would be looking at least 7 to 10 points from the handicapper so it would be safe to say he is now nudging the 90 mark, so it’s been a masterful effort by three times Champion conditioner K H Leong.

Felizmaster continued his super form of late when he came with a powerhouse finish to grab Invincible right on the wire to win the Group 1 Chairman’s Challenge Cup over 1200 metres.

Ridden by regular rider Wayne Smith, the Danny Wong trained galloper literally sprouted wings over the final one hundred metres to nail the tearaway Invincible (Horace Lam) at the post.

Disadvantaged at the equal weights scale of 126 pounds, Felizmaster made it three wins from his last four runs and took his Macau record to six wins and six placings from his 32 runs in the enclave.

Invincible a winner of six races on the sand looked a moral at the two hundred for his turf debut when he was still nearly five lengths clear after being set alight before the turn. However he was no match for Felizmaster and Smith who once again unleashed his ferocious finish to grab him. Last year’s winner Huka Eagle did a good job from barrier 13 under Andrew Calder to run third just over two lengths away.

Smith was full of praise for the chestnut son of Stratum (Aus) after the win.

“He loves a quite ride with the speed on. If you use him early he is not the same horse.”

“I was in a bit of bother on heels coming to the turn but then they opened up beautifully for me.” Smith said.

The win gave Wayne Smith a double for the afternoon having won the Listed Lisboa Challenge earlier with the highly promising Bring Me Speed trained by Victor Chan.

In what will no doubt go down as one of the finest rides for the season, Smith came right back from the widest gate of 14 to be last of the pack and on the fence in the 1200 metres event. Still second last approaching the corner Smith angled the flashy chestnut son of Sebring (Aus) into the clear, but was still spotting the unbeaten race favorite Luen On Eagle seven lengths and was only looking a place hope at best. Once balanced the three year exploded out of the pack to run down Luen On Eagle (Andrew Calder) in the shadows of the post to win by a length. Pearl Lucky (Peter Ho) was a distant third.

“I finally got to ride him my way. He has lost what early speed he had as a youngster.”

“We have had the wide draws of 13 our past two runs and drawing 14 today this was the only option.” Smith added.

Bring Me Speed will now be aimed at the Listed Lisboa Challenge over 1500 metres on April 14 and going on yesterdays win appears to have the race at his mercy.


Romantic Touch

The Winning Connections

Pearl Green

Felizmaster

Wayne Smith

Bring Me Speed


@ 2011 Macau Jockey Club.  All rights reserved       Contact Us | Feedback | Careers | Privacy | Disclaimer | Site Map | Set as Homepage | Advertising
Persons under 18 years of age and any others to be refused entry into betting centers are prohibited from gambling and entering Cashbet Centers.

MJC is the legal operator in Macao offering horse betting services. Being involved in illegal gambling shall be a serious crime. Please do not defy the law. For reporting gaming-related crimes, please contact Gaming-related Crimes Division of the Judiciary Police at 28330099.

MJC advocates responsible gambling. In case of emotional problems and abnormal behaviors, please contact Yat On Center at 2821 0033 for help, website : www.yoc.org.mo.