3 minute read

The very promising To’s Family made it win number five in Macau with a brilliant all the way win in Saturday’s IAM Lunar New Year Trophy over 1200 metres.

Prepared by Tony Fung and ridden by Ruan Maia, To’s Family the $29.50 favorite was sent straight to the front out of the gates to set up a fast lead, and was never in doubt in the run maintaining a strong gallop to the line to win by one length over Mission Gdragon (Fausto Henrique), with River Treasure (Eric Cheung) running on for third.

A son of boom sire Snitzel, To’s Family took a few runs to hit his straps in Macau before picking up a weak Maiden race back in April last season on a rating of 40. A couple of placings followed before another win in Class 4 & 5. Following a spell the gelding has definitely come back lengths better as a five year old and this season it’s been a steady rise to the top, along the way running a close second to Derby favorite Sacred Capital over 1200 metres back in April, before going on to win back to back races.

To’s Family is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Hamsa and was a A$110,000 purchase at the 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sales in Sydney. After Saturdays win the five year old has now earned close to $1 million HKD so the purchase price is more than paid for, and it appears that there is plenty more to come for the nicely put together gelding. The victory gave Tony Fung a double for the weekend.

Sheng Li Superstar lived up to his name with a dazzling win at his Macau debut to easily account for his opposition in the Class 2 & 3 over 1050 metres on Friday nights sand card.

Ridden by Manoel Nunes and also prepared by Tony Fung, Sheng Li Superstar burst to the front out of the gates to lead clearly before exploding away in the straight to win from the fast finishing Stadium (Peter Ho), with Smart Win (Oscar Chavez) in third.

Sheng Li Superstar is an Australian import that commenced his career as Westerly Wind in Victoria. Prepared by Henry Dwyer the son of Harbour Watch (Ire) scored a runaway six lengths win on the synthetic at Geelong and another second and third place for only four starts there. A big strong individual that goes to scale at 1250 pounds, Sheng Li Superstar looks to have a great future in the enclave particularly on the all weather surface.

Manoel Nunes continued on his winning way with another victory on Saturday in the last of the day the Class 4 over 1500 metres with Bring Me Glory.

Prepared by Victor Chan, Bring Me Glory is a former Godolfin horse that won a Wyong Maiden from his six runs in Australia. Saturday’s victory was win number two in Macau both over the 1500 metres turf course.

Nunes is only in Macau for one month until March 3rd and will be in action on Sunday for the big Macau – Hong Kong Trophy and MJC 30th Anniversary Cup Day. Saturdays win was his sixth for the month with 8 placings giving him a 21% win rate and a 50% place strike rate.

This Macau stint followed a very successful two months in Mauritius with 16 wins from 67 rides including a Group 1 Cup victory; and that came hot on the heels of a 12 week stopover on Seoul where he rode 27 winners including a record five timer in one day.