Unsung apprentices Cesor Santos of the Philippines and Jantakram Jannoi of Thailand took the feature events on Macau Apprentice Jockeys Invitation Races day at Taipa yesterday.
But it was the 16-year-old Kiwi claimer Opie Bosson who looked the star of the future.
Santos, 20, took the 1,800-metre Invitation Cup on the Darby Armstrong-trained Chain Ocean while Jannoi, 18, came from out of the clouds on State Express to catch New Hero, who had been ridden to perfection by Bosson in the 1,200-metre Invitation Bowl.
Bosson had compensation for his narrow defeat in the Bowl when completing a double against the senior riders.
Appropriately enough he scored on Smiley King in the New Zealand Trophy and booted home Aaron for his fellow Kiwi, Taipa trainer Joe Barnes, in the Philippines Trophy.
'The kid looks an absolute star. He gave New Hero a fantastic ride in the Bowl and no wonder they are raving about him down in New Zealand,' said Irish handler Dan Murphy.