Former Hong Kong jockey Peter Leyshan made a dream start to his training career at Taipa yesterday, writes Lawrence Wadey.
Leyshan saddled both the Gary Moore-ridden Truly Smile and the Grant Davison-partnered Well Benefit in the Class Three fifth event. The public marginally preferred the wet-tracker Truly Smile in the betting, but it was Well Benefit who got up to short head the 20-1 outsider Fight For Hero under a forceful ride from Davison.
Leyshan, who has taken over a number of horses from his father-in-law, the legendary George Moore, beamed: 'I've already been on the phone to George in Australia to let him know we've had a winner. He was absolutely delighted for us.' Leyshan has a team of 40-plus in work and he added: 'If you'd have asked me on Friday I would have said that Truly Smile was the better chance, but the track has dried out.
That swung things Well Benefit's way.' Most of the Leyshan string will be ridden by Moore or Davison with Neil Paine coming in for the lightweight mounts.