The Peter Leyshan trained Krystrump has foiled Macau Derby winner Pearl Green’s successful return to the racetrack in a nail biting finish to Saturday’s Class 2 over 1500 metres. In last stride lunge Pearl Green had victory snatched by a bob of the heads when Krystrump under Irishman Wayne Smith put his nose down right on the line to win by exactly that margin.

Races are won and lost in a split second and that’s what it all came down to when Wayne Smith was able to kick up in the first two hundred metres and post Pearl Green (Oscar Chavez) three deep and no cover in the run. A quick move by Smith approaching to home turn seen Pearl Green left a little flat footed, with Krystrump pinching that all important break that bought success on the wire.

Krystrump a son of New Trumps (Ire) is a quality racehorse that has had eight runs over the 1500 metres on the turf for four wins and four seconds, so it’s no disgrace going down by a whisker to a horse of that caliber. Pearl Green was shooting for four straight victories after winning the 4YO Derby (Group 3), the Macau Guineas (Group 1) both at 1500 metres and the Group 1 Macau Derby over 1800 metres.

Prior to being exported to Macau Krystrump won a 1200 metre maiden at Avondale, then was only 1.6 lengths away in a $50,000 NZD race at Ellerslie. The chestnut has picked up close to $3 million HKD in Macau from his five wins to date.

Pearl Green lost nothing in defeat and will be aimed for the Winter Trophy over 1800 metres in December and a tilt at the Macau – Hong Kong Trophy in March.

Big Alloy continued the good run of success for the Alan Tam yard with a strong win in the Class 2 & 3 over 1800 metres under top jockey Ruan Maia.

In what ended up in a race between the two favorites Big Alloy surged away at the line to beat the $1.5 labeled Rose Gold Alloy (Oscar Chavez) by three quarters of a length at the line, with Roaring Star (Peter Ho) back in third. In the field of 13 runners punter only had eyes for the first two with the remainder of the field big double figure prices.

Big Alloy was a A$42,000 purchase by Alan Tam after being passed in at the 2016 Sydney Easter Yearling Sales, and has now won four times and placed a further seven from his 14 starts to date and is already nudging the $1 million HKD mark in prize money. With two wins at the 1800 metre trip the geldings relaxed racing manner makes him an ideal Derby prospect as he continues to climb in the ratings.

Techfaith Warrior is another four year old on the way up and on Saturday in the Class 4 over 1500 metres posted his fourth win in Macau under Wayne Smith.

Trained by Sio Cheong the son of Hussonet (USA) has done a great job for a A$25,000 purchase with wins on both turf and sand and has placed from 1200 metres to winning at 1800 metres. Although it’s doubtful he can measure up in the Four Year Old Classics for his connections, he will more than pay his way in Macau.

Brazilian Fausto Henrique returned victorious from suspension to post a winner at his very first ride back on the K H Leong trained Pearl Delight in the Class 4 & 5 Handicap over 1200 metres on Saturday.

Henrique fired the gelding out of the gates to dispute the lead and then got a nice kick out of the four year at the two hundred to pinch an all important break, and had enough in hand to hold on and beat the fast finishing Leader All The Way (Shogo Nakano) by three quarters of a length, with Poker King (Ruan Maia) close up in third.

Henrique made a big impression in Macau last season after arriving half way through the season and winning 14 races and is sure to find himself in great demand with owners and trainers now that he is back in business.