Macau Derby Winner Ready For Sha Tin Challenge

Macau trainer Joe Lau is chasing his fifth victory in the annual Hong Kong – Macau Interport Series with Macau Derby winner The Alfonso at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Alfopnso takes his place against a quality line up in the Group 3 contest over 1400 metres.

At Thursday morning’s barrier draw The Alfonso came up with barrier seven, a gate that pleased Joe Lau.

“I was hoping anywhere from one to eight so yes I’m content with that.

“It’s a real quality line up so we didn’t want to be drawn right off the track. He should get a fair run from there.” Lau said.

Three times champion Macau rider Luis Corrales will ride The Alfonso who has pleased Lau since arriving at Sha Tin.

“He traveled across well and has settled in well. I’m very happy with him.”

Joe Lau made a clean sweep of the Series with Crown’s Gift winning the inaugural running of the race in 2004.

Since then he has won the race twice on the Macau side with Crown’s Master in 2007 and again with Clown Master in 2011, to establish himself as the most successful trainer in the Series.

Toughest from the Hong Kong defenders and there are many, might be the David Hall trained Apollo’s Choice to be ridden by Joao Moreira who won the race last year on Arpinati for John Moore.

Apollo’s Choice comes off a close fourth to The Wizard Of Oz at his latest over the Trophy distance and was good enough to run Derby contender Werther to a length and a half on international day.

The Australian import is a super chance of giving Hall his third win in the Series having won with Hawkes Bay in 2009 and Solar Great in 2013.

John Moore has won the race three times on the Hong Kong side with Arpinati last year, Majestic Falcon in 2012 and Tiber in 2007 and has a strong chance again with Dashing Fellow to be ridden by Zac Purton.

Dashing Fellow has five wins at the trip and lowered the colors of Hong Kong Classic Cup winner Sun Jewelry in the Panasonic Cup last November.

Travel Renyi from the Richard Gibson yard looms as the best of the lightweight runners with Chad Schofield on top.

The gelding has won three from his last four starts and has shown vast improvement from last season.

Topweight Packing LLaregyb has mixed it with the best in Hong Kong on his day but has 133 pounds to carry, but might need further then the 1400 metres that way he is racing. However the race will be run at a good tempo and that will suit.

The John Size prepared Tour De Force is an interesting runner with Brett Prebble to ride. He is better than his recent form suggests and is back to a winning mark.

Of the other Macau runners Bo Bo So Cute is a talented racehorse that won seven from nine starts last season as a three year old.

The gelding will be suited by the big Sha Tin straight and has come up with gate one and Leo Salles to ride.

Master Of Puppets nowadays needs wet ground to show his best and with a beautiful spring afternoon forecast for Sunday he will not be getting that.

Valiant Soldier is a winner of six races in Macau but the 1400 metres of Sha Tin looks beyond him, and whilst Sheng Li Win is a quality sand galloper he is yet to make his mark on the turf.