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It has taken nearly 12 months for last year’s SJM Macau Derby winner Turquoise Power to make it back to the winners circle, but the five year did it all in good style when he bounced back to form with a strong win over 1800m at Taipa last Saturday.

Given a lovely ride by Andrew Calder, Turquoise Power charged home late between runners to beat Lucky Winston (Martin Wepner), with Grand Double Win (Charles Perkins) running on well for third.

Back in April of last year Turquoise Power gave trainer Geoff Allendorf his second Group 1 SJM Macau Derby by virtue of a brilliant ride from Joao Moreira from the outside barrier.

A close third to Golden Double in the Group 2 Directors Cup over 1700 metres followed soon after, but it’s all been tough going since then.

Trainer Geoff Allendorf attributes a lot of that to Turquoise Powers racing style stating that the gelding needs races run to suit.

“There were a few factors to consider in it all.” Allendorf said.

“After his Derby win and a placing in a Group 2 he got up to a rating of 91.”

“There were very few 1800 metres races around for him, and in the 1500 metre races he is better if he is on wet ground.”

“He’s a horse that needs to get out and get going in his races. He can’t sit and sprint home he has to be gradually wound up, he is very one paced.”

Allendorf admitted to being a little concerned in the run Saturday when the five year was strung up behind traffic coming to the six hundred metre point.

“I said to Andrew I’m always telling you never leave the fence, but with this horse you need to make an exception he needs to get going early.”

“Andrew rode the perfect race finding the rail from barrier nine and got him on the move just at the right time.”

“He really appreciated the step up to 1800 metres.” Andrew Calder said.

“He was travelling like the winner at the 600 metre mark and we just needed luck to get into the clear. It was a strong win.”

Geoff Allendorf will aim the son of More Than Ready (USA) towards the Macau - Hong Trophy over 1500 metres on the 20th of May and would be hoping to for soft ground to give him a legitimate chance in the Group 1 event.

The Macau Gold Cup (Group 1) would be his next goal over 1800 metres in July.

Patrick Lee has a nice staying type in the making with his three year old Encosta De Lago gelding Paulson who made it three wins in a row on the turf Saturday.

Ridden by regular rider Peter Ho, Paulson overcame two bad checks in the run that sent him back to the tail of the field, before improving coming to the turn and then powered home down the outside to win running away.

Whist it was only a 1500 metre Class 4 contest, Paulson has come a long way from his original rating of 39 as a griffin.

A product of the Macau Jockey Clubs highly successful Online Sales concept, Paulson was a $75,000 NZD buy from the Karaka Ready To Run Sale of 2015.

The 2015 Online sales have now produced 14 individual winners of 24 races from a group of 37 youngsters. Of the rest many have placed and there is still some that as late maturing types are just starting to show their potential.

Paulson looks an ideal Derby prospect for next season with his relaxed style of racing and great turn of foot in the home straight.

Lucky Station was another winner Saturday from 2015 Online Sales when he came with a late charge under Martin Wepner to snatch victory in the 25 to 45 rated event over 1500 metres.

A son of Testa Rossa (Aud), Lucky Station was a $65,000 Aud. Purchase from the Inglis Star Ready 2 Race Sales in 2015.

The three year gelding has a taken some time to come to hand and the addition of blinkers by trainer Alan Tam was a significant factor in his win Saturday.

Lucky Station is out of the city winning Clang mare La Bella Luisa and distance looks to be his niche.