Wonder Mossman stamped himself as one of the greats of Macau racing when he bounced back to form with a brilliant victory in Friday night’s Class 1 & 2 over 1500 metres (turf), giving him win number 18 in the enclave.

The rising ten year old who has been written off numerous times continues to shrug off retirement, and on Friday showed there was still more to come as he raced away from his much younger rivals for a big win.

Wonder Mossman in his heyday captured the hearts of racegoers with his tearaway leading tactics where he would often lead by up to ten lengths, and simply crush the hearts of his rivals as he stayed on relentlessly to the wire.

Nowadays the dazzling speed away from the gates is not there anymore, and his old legs ain’t what they used to be, but his heart and will to win are still intact and off a lovely patient ride by C F (Charlie) Chan, the old marvel came from a midfield position to burst to the front at the two hundred for an easy win in 1.26.7 for the distance.

Wonder Mossman is a son of Mossman (Aus), and is from the Danehill mare Eighth Wonder who is a daughter of the 1998 Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel. The bay still holds the 1500 metre track record of 1.24.9 that he set in his prime in 2014. As well he stills holds the record for 1400 metres (turf) at 1.19.7 and at one stage held the 1700 metre record on the sand in 1.44.2.

Disappointments in Fridays race were the $1.7 race favorite Obrigado Mais (Wayne Smith) who struggled to run fifth beaten over five lengths, and the well supported River Control (Peter Ho) who jogged in the run but found nothing

Trainer K C Chong has done a superb job right from day one with the horse and has defied the odds to keep him racing after being plagued with unsoundness in the past few years.

Wonder Mossman has raced on 64 occasions in Macau for 18 wins, eight seconds and four thirds for $8 million HKD in prize money.

His majors wins include four Group 1’s that seen him win three straight Macau Gold Cups in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and The Star of The Sand Stakes (2014). Add to that his five Group 2 victories including two Directors Cups in 2013 and 2015.

The bay gelding was originally bred and raced in Australia by Gerry Harvey where as Racing Eight he won a 3YO Maiden at Warwick Farm from his six runs there when prepared by David Payne.

Wonder Mossman’s connections were again in the winner’s circle in the final event when their other handy galloper Wonder Holy an Irish import, won the Class 3 & 4 over 1500 metres off a lovely patient ride from Oscar Chavez.

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Capital Protector made it win number four in Macau when he destroyed his rivals in the Class 2 & 3 over 1200 metres under regular rider Wayne Smith.

Prepared by Sio Cheong, the son of Foreplay (Aus) showed brilliant speed to lead easily before bounding away for the easiest of victories from Northern Legend (Charlie Chan), with One Belt One Road (Frankie Choi) a nose away in third.

The win was pretty much a replay of his previous victory when he showed dazzling speed from the outside barrier of 12 to win over the same distance on May 19 in comparable time to the Group 3 Macau Sprint Trophy.

It’s taken awhile but Highspot has finally broke his maiden status at start number 33 with a late burst under jockey Peter Ho to grab victory in the Class 6 over 1200 metres.

Prepared by Geoff Allendorf, the son of Manhattan Rain (Aus) just edged out race favorite Techfaith Warrior (Wayne Smith) by a head with Bellomaster (Oscar Chavez) close up in third.

Whilst his maiden win has been a long while coming, the gelding has managed to place on 12 occasions making the quinella spot on eight of those, and along the way the way picked up close to half a million HKD in prize money, a feat not many maiden gallopers could boast of.

After Saturdays win he is now nudging the $600,000 HKD mark for owner Robert Lau Siu Kit.