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Macau Has A New Superstar

3 minute read

The very promising Sheng Li Superstar made it two wins from two starts in Macau with another all the way victory on the sand in the Class 2 over 1050 metres at Taipa on Friday night.

Prepared by Tony Fung and ridden by Ruan Maia, Sheng Li Superstars win was pretty much a replay of his debut victory under Manoel Nunes on February 22.

Showing great speed away from the gates the son of Harbour Watch set up a clear lead and traveled on the bridle in the run, before finding plenty in the home straight to win easily on the line from Desi Style (Wayne Smith), with Galaxy Giant (Cliffy Lai) in third.

A big strong gelding that goes to scale at around 1250 pounds, Sheng Li Superstar commenced his racing career under Henry Dwyer in Melbourne.

Racing there as Westerly Wind the gelding made his debut on the turf at Wangaratta running a nice third.

Another run on a very heavy track saw him unplaced before Dwyer switched his attention to the all weather track at Geelong. In two starts on the synthetic he ran a close second before bolting away at his next start to win by six lengths.

Originally a $A145,000 purchase by Qatar Bloodstock at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Westerly Wind was sold to Macau to owner Frank Wong who aptly named him Sheng Li Superstar.

The gelding’s time on Friday night of 1.01.9 and the manner of his win, should see him having no difficulty reaching the top bracket on the all weather and prove a shrewd buy with the 4YO already picking up $HK367,000 in his two wins to date.

Ruan Maia
Ruan Maia Picture: Macau Jockey Club

The win by Sheng Li Superstar was the first leg of a double for Tony Fung who combined again with Ruan Maia to win the next event the Class 3 & 4 over 1350 metres with White Debbie.

White Debbie made it win number four in Macau all at the 1350 metres distance. With seven other placed efforts from a total of 19 runs the son of Medaglia D’Oro is proving more than useful and has picked over $HK750,000 prize money.

After the weekend racing Tony Fung, last season’s champion trainer, sits in second spot on the standings with 22 winners, one shy of Alan Tam on 23.

In equal third spot are Sio Cheong and the combined yard of Tommy Tse and Louis Ho both on 20 victories.

In what is shaping as a great battle between Tam and Fung, the big finisher could be Stanley Chin who has plenty of nice newcomers in his stable of 34, and has been quietly chipping away in fifth spot on 18 winners.

In the riders standings last season’s champion jockey Ruan Maia has stretched his lead to 15 wins over Luis Corrales. Maia on 39 leads Corrales on 24 with Peter Ho in third spot on 21 victories.

Another good win on the night came from Heartgoodallwell in the Class 4 over 1050 metres.

Ridden by seven pound claimer Eric Cheung, Heartgoodallwell sat outside the early leader Heng Feng Star before pouncing on him at the two hundred and forging away for a nice win.

Heartgoodallwell is another expensive purchase that didn’t live up to expectations and has found himself in Macau.

Purchased for $A180,000 by China Horse Racing Club at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales, Heartgoodallwell well was originally named Arbitrate.

The gelding was placed with Team Snowden and his three starts in Australia were disappointing, with a third at Muswellbrook in the Star Kingdom his best effort.

Prepared in Macau by Joe Lau, the gelding looks to have strengthened up a bit as a four year old and should pay his way in the lower grade.
Racing and Sports

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