Big Alloy has produced a dazzling last to first to performance to win Saturday’s SJM Macau Derby Trial over 1500 metres on the turf at the Taipa racetrack.

Prepared by Alan Tam and ridden by Luis Corrales, Big Alloy powered home late down to outside to win running away from Luen On Dance Kid (Oscar Chavez), with the favorite Éclair Lightning (Shogo Nakano) running in third.

It was win number six in the enclave for Big Alloy a son of the speedy Foxwedge (Aus), who as a three year old was a winner of the Group 1 2012 William Reid Stakes. The gelding is out of the Bernadini (USA) mare Berna, and was an A$42,000 purchase at the 2016 Inglis Ready to Race Sale.

Big Alloy has been a model of consistency right from day one with his record now reading 19 runs for six wins, four seconds and five thirds and after Saturday is nudging the $1.5 million HKD mark in prize money.

Unlike his sire Foxwedge (Aus) who was a gun sprinter, Big Alloy is the total opposite and possesses no early dash whatsoever. The four year fell out of the gates on Saturday and was even given a crack with the whip by Corrales to stay in touch in last place. Still last at the six hundred Big Alloy then got rolling around the outside and was on the back of Luen On Dance Kid rounding the corner; then once in the straight he let down magnificently to storm home wide out to win handsomely.

Jockey Luis Corrales was full of praise for the bay after the win and had this to say. “I thought the 1500 metres might have been a bit short for him against those horses, but they went very hard in the race and that suited me fine. We were a long way off them but he has a great finish and I was able to bring him out wide for a good clear run.”

The Derby has always been Alan Tam’s long range mission with the trainer knowing what it takes to win the coveted event having won the race three times. Tam won the Derby in 2002 with Royal Treasure under Frankie Dettori in what was his first year as a trainer. He followed that up the very next year with Analyst bolting in under Cedric Segeon, and then had a ten year wait before Elderly Paradise destroyed his opponents with a massive win in 2012.

Big Alloy does not possess the same star quality as the above mentioned Derby victors, however his never say die attitude, and the fact that he is already proven at the Derby distance of 1800 metres with three wins already to his credit, will ensure that he will prove a worthy foe come Derby day.

The hard luck story of the race was no doubt the Peter Leyshan trained Éclair Lightning who was drawn to get the run of the race off a good speed from gate two; however he ended up being shuffled back to third last at one stage, then failed to find clear running in the straight. After being under a hold for most of the last 250 metres, the big gelding did an amazing job when he found an opening late to run third.

Joe Lau’s Sacred Capital is a clear cut favorite for the Derby following his easy victories in the Group 2 Spring Trophy beating Pearl Green, and the MJC 30th Anniversary Cup where he beat Éclair Lightning who struck trouble in the run. Lau opted not run Scared Capital in Saturdays Derby Trial, and the next assignment for the son of O’Reilly would appear the Macau Guineas over 1500 metres on May 25th.

It will be a great contest should the two clash in the Guineas. Whilst Sacred Capital will be the most favored, Éclair Lightning appears to be getting better with every run.

Japanese rider Shogo Nakano produced a superb ride to win on the K C Chong trained Wonder Holy in the Class 2 & 3 over 1800 metres.

Wonder Holy was one of only two leaders in the nine horse field, the other being Bring Me Glory who blew his chances by leaping in the sir at the start. Nakano took full advantage of the soft lead and rated the son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) to perfection on the lead. With no real pressure applied in the run Nakano was able to sit as quite as a mouse until the top of the straight, and only really got to work the last two hundred metres to dart away for a nice win.

The seven year old beat Bring Me Glory who ran on well from the back under Luis Corrales for a length and a quarter second, with Roaring Star (Oscar Chavez) close up in third.

The $1.6 favorite Sportmanship ended up with a nightmare run under Ruan Maia; after beginning well the gelding was posted three and four deep the trip overacing, and did a fine job to run as close as he did in sixth only beaten one and a half lengths.

Following the running of race three the heavens erupted and Macau for the second weekend straight was lashed by a severe tropical storms and lightning. The remaining races on the card were abandoned and will be added to next Friday night’s race card.