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Racing Review
Lau Chasing A Third Derby
2019-07-08 by Harry Troy

Joe Lau’s Sacred Capital has confirmed his place as Macau’s Derby favorite with another assertive win in Saturday’s Class 1 & 2 over 1500 metres.

With regular rider Peter Ho in the saddle, Sacred Capital hit the line too well for Éclair Sunshine (Frankie Choi) to win by a neck, with last year’s Derby runner up Royal Garden (Luis Corrales) running on for third.

While the winning margin was only a neck it was the manner in which Sacred Capital found the wire after traveling on the bridle in fourth spot for most of the race. Ho cuddled the impressive looking son of “O’Reilly (NZ) until straightening and only did enough to ensure he landed the prize. With the SJM Derby only three weeks away, it was obvious that Lau was looking to give the four year old as little to do as possible in Saturday’s race.

Joe Lau won his first Macau Derby in 2015 with The Alfonso under Nash Rawiller who destroyed his rivals with a five lengths victory. Zac Purton then guided Sacred Man to one of the easiest wins in the Blue Riband event with a massive eight and a half lengths win in the race in 2017. Like The Alfonso and Sacred Man, Sacred Capital is raced by the same connections in Mr. Chen Ching Lung and Dato K S Yap.

The Alfonso was an outstanding racehorse winning seven races and placing six times from 22 runs; the best effort being an unlucky neck second to Dashing Fellow in the 2016 Group 3 Hong Kong – Macau Trophy at Sha Tin in 2016. Sacred Man whilst a Derby winner never went onto great heights winning only one race after. Sacred Capital appears an even brighter prospect than the afore mentioned in that he is a much more versatile galloper who has enough early speed to lead middle distance events, and can also sit off the pace and produce a dazzling finish as he did on Saturday. Add that his ability to handle any type of going he is the complete racehorse. While yet to win at 1800 metres his run in the Group 2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield over 1800 and his close sixth beaten 1.7 lengths to ATC Derby winner Levendi in the Group 3 Carbine Club over 1600 at Flemington suggest that is not an issue.

Main rivals for Sacred Capital appear to be the luckless Éclair Lightning from the Peter Leyshan stable who has had a frustrating run of luck on his past four runs. Éclair Lightning a son of Darci Brahma (NZ) was completely knocked out of the race in the MJC 30Th Anniversary Cup over 1500 metres back in March 3rd. Despite losing a good five lengths in the run he still managed to pick himself up off the canvas and charge home for second beaten two and a half lengths to Sacred Capital. Then followed his third place going to the line on the bridle in the Macau Derby Trial over 1500 metres behind Big Alloy, after hitting a brick wall in the straight with nowhere to go.

A three wide trip on an unsuitable heavy track followed that run in the Group 1 Macau Guineas only beaten one and a quarter lengths; then in what was absolute tragedy Éclair Lightning was again a victim of bad luck, when he ended up finding a mountain of trouble when 9/11 beaten seven lengths behind Royal Garden on June 22nd.

Bring Me Speed from the Victor Chan yard was splendid in winning the Macau Guineas over 1500 metres, and the 1800 metres will prove no problem for the winner of nine races including two Group 1 events. However we have seen very little of him at the track since and the only races for him before the Derby are a Class 1 & 2 over 1510 metres on the sand this Friday, and a 1200 Class 1 & 2 on the turf Saturday.

Luen On Dance Kid from the Geoff Allendorf stable is totally honest horse and winner of six races and has chased home our best gallopers, but just seems a little shy of the top echelon. Likewise Big Alloy the Derby trial winner from the Alan Tam yard. His six victories include the Group 3 Derby Trial by default, and whilst a talented racehorse like Luen On Dance Kid is just short of the top bracket.

One very interesting winner on Saturday was the Tony Fung trained Victory Moment who won in a canter in the Class 2 over 1800 metres.

Ridden by Peter Ho the Irish import traveled well in the run behind the tearaway leader Golden Fans, before ambling on by him at the top of the straight to race away for the easiest of wins.

Victory Moment was originally prepared by Sylvester Kirk at Lambourn where he won three races and placed five times from 17 runs in the UK.

The four year olds run time for the 1800 metres of Saturday was a full second quicker than the other division of the Class 2.

The Macallan was another nice winner on Saturday to give trainer Joe Lau a winning double for the day.

Ridden by C F (Charlie) Chan The Macallan despite drifting out wide on the track late came back strong at the finish to beat Magnapegasus (Frankie Choi) in the second division of the Class 2 over 1800 metres.

The four year will also be vying for a Derby spot but looks a bit below the main contenders for the race. That said he will more than pay his way in the enclave in races from 1500 to 1800 metres.

Eight Year old gelding Stallion Treasure has been a vast improver in recent weeks since joining the Geoff Allendorf stable.

Stallion Treasure under Oscar Chavez powered home strongly from the tail of the field to race away with the Class 5 & 6 over 1800 metres to win his fourth race in the enclave.

The Irish son of Bushranger had been getting beaten out of sight his past few runs and it looked as if retirement most certainly was an option. Geoff Allendorf has only had the horse for two runs prior to Saturday, but there was significant improvement showing before Saturday’s win.

“He has a lot of problems mostly back issues that was why he was refusing to jump away from the gates. It’s taken awhile but we ‘ve got on top of it for the moment, but he still is a day to day proposition.”


Sacred Capital

Joe Lau

Victory Moment

In a decieving photo The Macallen (outiside) beats Magnapegasus.

Stallion Treasure


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