The inaugural $75,000 Star River – Windsor Arch Cup (1100m) could not have unveiled a more apt winner in Macau on Friday night.
The race for Class 3 gallopers is sponsored by Victory Real Estate Development Co Ltd, a real estate developer based in Macau, and already a supporter of major sporting events such as the Macau Grand Prix.
It was a welcomed return to the winner's circle for the Mark Walker-trained Macau, whose last win came in June in a Class 4 event over 1000m on Polytrack.
Stepped up to Class 3 company at his subsequent four starts, the Fastnet Rock four-year-old lost no admirers with one fourth and three thirds in a row.
With a three-kilo claim courtesy of apprentice Shafiq Rusof and a perfect draw in barrier No 2, Macau was understandably well in the market this time, going off as the even-money favourite.
The punters were well inspired as Macau came off an ideal midfield rails-hugging run before taking the short way home sliding up on the inside of the weakening Doraemon (Steven Li) to score by just under two lengths from the fast-finishing Palombaro (CS Chin) with Good Striker (Benny Woodworth) third another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.37secs.
With Macau's win, Shafiq was teaming up with his master Walker for a race-to-race double as they had earlier taken out the $35,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1700m with Buzet.
Walker remained convinced Macau, whose three previous wins were all registered on Polytrack, would salute on grass one day.
“He's kept improving all the time and has acclimatised to Singapore very well now,” said the Kiwi conditioner.
“I do think he is not necessarily just a Polytrack horse. I think he's just as good on grass and it's just a matter of finding the right race for him.
“He's always been threreabouts even when he was not winning and tonight the three-kilo claim helped.
“Shafiq rode him and the previous winner (Buzet) very well. When he was with me in New Zealand, he got plenty of experience riding in barrier trials and I've always had a sneaky suspicion he would do well here.”
