Luis Corrales Extends Macau Premiership Lead

Three time champion Macau rider Luis Corrales stretched his lead to a five win margin over arch rival Peter Ho in his quest for a fourth straight jockeys title with a treble at Taipa on February 27.

Corrales was in superb form and produced a lovely ride on Windsor Arch Five to open his account on the day in Class 3 over 1200 metres (turf).

Windsor Arch Five began brilliantly off his inside gate to lead but was taken on by plenty with Corrales wisely surrendering the lead to sit behind a line of three on the speed.

With five across the track at the two hundred there appeared many chances but it was Corrales and Windsor Arch Five that burst on the scene late to snatch victory from the very honest Mission Gdragon (Peter Ho), with the black booker out the race Hopefully Tomorrow (Peter Lao) flashing home late for third.

With the action for the second half of the program focused on the all weather surface Corrales soon posted his second win of the day with River Bobo in the Class 1 over 1350 metres.

River Bobo maintained his unbeaten record at the 1350 metre distance to make it six from six at the trip.

A son of Elusive City River Bobo did not get it easy with Vigor Partner (Andrew Calder) making a real race of it right down to the last fifty metres.

It will now be interesting to see if trainer Sio Cheong heads to the Group 1 Macau Guineas, the first leg of the Macau Triple Crown over 1500 metres (turf) on March 19 with the gelding as his next assignment.

River Bobo has been a winner on the turf at the distance and if he takes his pace in the event he will pitted against the stables main Derby and Triple Crown hopeful Sandtop, a last start winner of the G2 Spring Trophy over the Guineas distance on February 2.

With a total of seven wins under his belt and three placings River Bobo has only been out of the top three spot twice in his career.

The Danny Wong trained Pacers Bahhare has developed a reputation for being quiet contrary at times however Luis Corrales seems to have the knack of extracting the best out of the gelding.

Corrales made it three wins out of six rides on the son of Bahhare when he literally sprouted wings late to nab Harbour Star (Peter Ho) right on the line to win by a head, with Red Dragon (Cliffy Lai) one and three quarters back in third.

Luis Corrales has now ridden a total of 735 winners in Macau but still has a way to go to best Manoel Nunes who posted a grand total of 822 victories in the enclave before setting up base in Singapore where he is the reigning two time champion rider.