3 minute read

With only four race days remaining until the end of the season the intriguing battle between Tony Fung and Danny Wong for the Macau training premiership continues with both leading in a winner on Saturday’s turf card at Taipa.

Fung has maintained a slender lead for the most part of the season and has a three win advantage over Wong with the score 34 to 31 after Saturday’s racing.

The very promising To’s Family stretched Fung’s lead when he led throughout to win the Class 4 over 1200 metres under top jockey Ruan Maia.

To’s Family was originally an $110,000 Aud. purchase at the 2015 Sydney Inglis Easter Sale, but obviously did not live up to early expectations and after a trial win at Newcastle on the synthetic track was sold onto Macau.

The now five year has won two races from eight starts in Macau and appears to handle any type of racing surface. His run time of 1.11.9 on a yielding track was just a tick slower than the Class 2 & 3 won by Thar.

Danny Wong didn’t take too long to retaliate and answered the call with a victory in the next race the Class 2 & 3 over 1200 metres with the former Godolphin horse Thar, who led throughout under jockey Luis Corrales for a nice win.

Thar won two races from five runs in Australia for Godolphin while in the care of John O’Shea, and has added another three victories in Macau since arriving, all over 1200 metres.

Danny Wong without doubt has on paper more firepower with a stable of 32 horses as opposed to Fung’s 25 strong yard. Both have horses that are graded right to secure more winners over the last four racedays, but Fung is in the enviable position with a three win margin. That said it would only take one good day for Wong to be going head to head with him, and it looks like the fight will go right down to the final raceday.

Brazilian Ruan Maia has long had a stranglehold on the Jockeys’ Championship and stretched that lead further with another double on Saturday on River Control and River Treasure, both for former Champion trainer Sio Cheong.

Maia on 56 victories has a twenty win margin over Luis Corrales (36), with Peter Ho back in third spot on 30.

The last of the day was taken out in great fashion by the Stephen Chow trained Ice Jade who bolted away with the Class 4 & 5 over 1800 metres.

The six year was confidently backed late to jump favorite and was ridden an absolute treat by Filipino horseman Breinell Yamzon, who had the gelding box seated and relaxed in fourth spot in the run. Once in the straight Yamzon punched the son Minstrel Court (Aus) between runners, and powered away over the last two hundred to win by three and a half lengths and break his maiden status.