IRISH-American rider Declan Murphy stole the limelight from a bevy of Macau beauties when he emphatically announced his arrival on the Taipa scene last night.
Taipa went en fete for the opening night of the season, with the four top placegetters in the recent Miss Macau competition on course for the running of the feature named in their honour.
But it was new boy Murphy who had the first night's crowd buzzing with a dashing display of style and vigour on 5-2 favourite Handsome Knight in the third event on the eight-race programme.
There was a roar of excitement from the stands as Declan, a five-year veteran of the demands of Hong Kong racing, punched Handsome Knight to the front at the top of the straight in the Class Five, 1,000-metre dash and then rode the gelding right out with grim determination.
''I could not have asked for a better start. I suppose you could say I have been waiting about 10 years to ride a winner for my brother, Joe. I don't think I am overstating it when I say that this was one of the great moments of my career,'' Declan said.
''I was always going to be a jockey and Joe a trainer. It has taken this long to actually link up and now we have started it with a winner.'' Joe, who was quickly on hand to lead in the winner, was quick to praise his brother.
