JOCKEY John Egan, the only rider in the world to commute between the Curragh in Ireland and Taipa in Macau, returned to a first-ride winner last night.
Egan flew back to Ireland after last month's Derby meeting but returned on Friday for another brief Taipa stint before racing hits full stride in his native country.
And he wasted no time in getting back the trip's expenses with Jean-Pierre (10-1) winning by a length in the opening Class Six, 1,500-metre event for Egan and first-season trainer Joe Murphy.
Egan is a talented rider who has made a distinct impression at Taipa but he has chalked up enough air miles between Ireland and the Far East to earn a bonus trip.
While Egan was celebrating last night, the same could not be said of the Macau Jockey Club whose innovative Saturday night meeting was not a great success.
With competing attractions of racing in Hongkong in the afternoon, booming casinos and the Canidrome, the MJC were taking a risk.