River Bobo maintained his unbeaten record over the 1350 metre sand course at Taipa with an effortless win on January 8.
Ridden by regular rider Luis Corrales River Bobo made light of his 132 pounds and barrier 13, showing his brilliant speed to burn across the face of the field and lead by the time the field strode onto the course proper after 200 metres.
A son Elusive City from the Jungle Pocket mare Swiftsure, River Bobo has won all five starts at the 1350 metre trip.
His only defeat on the sand in his six runs so far was a three quarter length third to Macau’s best sand sprinter Healthy Life over 1050 metres in late November.
Prepared by Macau’s current leading trainer Sio Hun Cheong, River Bobo is the complete race horse.
The four year has won on both sand and turf, and showed his versatility by being beaten a short head by The Alfonso in the G3 Macau Sprint Trophy over 1000 metres. That followed a win over 1500 metres on the turf prior.
Sio Cheong has done a magnificent job in his first season as a trainer posting 15 winners to date and currently has two of the most fancied runners for this year Derby in his yard in River Bobo and Sandtop.
Whilst Sandtop may appear the stronger of the two at the 1800 metres of the Derby distance, River Bobo would most certainly not be the out of it.
He was strong at the end of 1500 metre victory back in August as a three year old against older company with 128 pounds. His brilliant turn of foot away from the barriers negates any bad draw, and his on speed style of running is always a huge advantage at the Taipa track.
Luis Corrales had teamed up earlier in the night with Sio Cheong when his promising three year old River Amazing made short work of his opposition in the Class 4 over 1350 metres.
From barrier 14 Corrales just bided his time in a race run at hot speed, before chiming in soon after heads were turned for home to race away for a big win.
River Amazing is a son of Savabeel, a breed that is doing extremely well in Macau and Friday’s win gives him a total of three victories to date.
With his winning double on Friday night Luis Corrales has now edged closer to the suspended Peter Ho with the score now 20 to 18 in favor of Peter Ho in the jockeys’title.
Sio Cheong leads the trainer’s standings on 15 victories, five ahead of Kim Cheong with first season trainer Rambo Tse in third on 10 wins.
Frenchman Charles Perkins opened his New Year account with a winning double on Friday night’s sand card to take him to seven wins for the new season.
Lucky And Healthy from the Geoff Allendorf stable got Perkins off to a good in the first of the night the 2 & 3 Year Old Handicap over 1050 metres when he finished too well for Show Smart (Wil Pao) and Dencheng One (Leo Salles).
The win gave Lucky And Healthy three wins from his last four starts and the son of Makfi looks as though he will continue to improve as he steps up in distance.
Road To Victory from the in-form Rambo Tse stable gave Perkins a quick double when he came with a powerful burst late to grab One From Many (Wil Pao), with River Treasure (John Cordero) close up in third in the Class 4 & 5 over 1500 metres.
Road To Victory had only been with Rambo Tse for two runs prior to Friday night, and really caught the eye in his run previous with a fast finishing fourth over 1350 metres behind One From Many.
Tse has had a total of 30 runners so far this season for 10 winners and seven placings with Road To Victory his sole runner for the night.
His win strike rate of 33% and 57% place rate has him well clear of the next best in Sio Cheong who is on a win rate of 16% and a place strike of 37%.
