Dettori takes Macau by storm
Frankie Dettori landed the $2.2 million Macau Derby in sensational style yesterday with a brilliant ride aboard Royal Treasure.
The Italian's mount was drawn 14, but he grabbed the initiative with a bold move which took him from near last to the front about the 600-metre mark and from there Royal Treasure ran away with the 1,800-metre event to score by 4.5 lengths.
Dettori, one of five top overseas riders recruited by the Macau Jockey Club for the big day, was delighted with the success on his first visit to Macau. 'The Club have done a great promotion,' he said. 'I've enjoyed being here and I'd love to come back.'
Glen Boss, who arrived from Australia yesterday morning following his Group One victory in the AJC Oaks at Randwick on Saturday, was second aboard Gibson, having encountered trouble in running.
Happy Morning, ridden by Macau-based Frenchman William Mongil, was third. Patrick Payne, Olivier Doleuze and Pat Eddery - the other three visiting jockeys - finished fourth, sixth and 11th respectively.
But there were successes elsewhere on the 12-race card for Boss, Payne and Doleuze. Boss took the fourth race on Super Fortune, fellow Australian Payne landed the opener aboard Perfection and Doleuze scored a double with New Age in race six and All Pass in the last event. But the Frenchman was warned following his short-head win on New Age as he mistook the winning post and produced his trademark winning salute, almost losing the race to Diddlio.
Doleuze was also told to tone down his exuberant victory celebrations during his three-month stint in Hong Kong, which finished last month. And there were many during his 'unbelievable' stint, as Doleuze rode 26 winners from 134 rides - a strike rate of just under 20 per cent.
