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. There were 2,998 fans on course but totalisator turnover failed to reach $10 million with Hongkong telebet customers making up 20 per cent of the final $9.760 million tally. Visiting rider Martin Sng, who rode in the International Cup in Hongkong last week, tasted Taipa success when Prince Of Magic (7-2) won the Class Three, 1,050-metre third event for veteran trainer Lee Tin-lam. Sng bounced the gelding out smartly on the sand and Prince Of Magic responded to clear away for a length-and-three-quarter success over Smart Star. French rider Claude Piccioni, who has also been enjoying success at Taipa, landed a stable gamble when Luen Hing Treasure (7-1) scored a decisive victory in the fourth event's short sprint.
