News

MACAU: Derby Looms For Viva Ocho

17th Jan 2011

]Racing And Sports](http://www.racingandsports.com.au/international/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=198505&story=MACAU:_Derby_Looms_For_Viva_Ocho) - Harry Troy in Macau - Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Easter purchase Viva Ocho maintained his unbeaten status on the all weather surface with a dominant win over 1500 metres at Taipa on Saturday.

Ridden by regular rider Stanley Chin, Viva Ocho scored his easiest victory to date when he cruised on by of his opposition at the two hundred to win with plenty in hand from Luen Yat Fantasy (Horace Lam), with Flying Horse (Manoel Nunes) in third.

The gelding will now be set for $1 million Dollar Group 1 Macau Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Crown to be run on February 13.

“I am absolutely delighted with his progress.” trainer Gary Moore said after the win.

“He just went into another gear at the two hundred and was in a different class to them.”

Moore is confident Viva Ocho is not just a sand performer predicting the gelding will be an able back-up to his prime Derby contender Tron Kingdom.

“He showed me enough with a couple of his runs on the turf early on when he was very slow away and he is a lengths better horse now.”

“I will run him in a Class 2 race over 1500 on the turf on January 29, then onto the Guineas.”

“I feel there is still improvement in him and the further he goes the better he will be.”

“As far as the sand goes I predict he will end up one of the best horses Macau has seen on that surface.”

Viva Ocho was a $A1.2 million purchase at the 2008 Inglis Easter Sales in Sydney, by champion Hong Kong trainer John Moore.

Originally selected for Hong Kong, the eye catching son of Encosta De Lago from the Irish mare Ylang Ylang did not live up to expectations early on, and was transferred to John Moore's brother Gary to race in Macau.

The four year old has blossomed into a serious racehorse and gets better with each run.

Four times champion trainer Moore is eyeing a fifth Macau Premiership Title with a strong team now of 40 in his yard.

“My team is up to 40 now with another five on the next shipment.” Moore added.

“There is still a way to go but a fifth title is looking a real possibility.”

Moore on 23 winners for the season holds a six win lead over Patrick Lee, with the combined stable of Brian Kan and Tommy Tse in equal third spot with Joe Lau on 14.

• JOE Lau's Brilliant Life made it two wins from as many starts in Macau with dazzling win in the Class 2 & 3 Handicap over 1050 metres on Saturday's sand program.

With Peter Ho in the saddle Brilliant Life parked just off the speed to the corner before chiming in at the two hundred to bolt away from a good quality field and win by three lengths from Super Smile (Manoel Nunes), with Super Alloy (Stanley Chin) in third.

Brilliant Life had created a big impression on debut with a slashing win from gate 12 on the all-weather, and looks destined for the top shelf.

An Australian import Brilliant Life commenced his racing career as On Your Mark under Mark Kavanagh in Victoria.

From four starts the gelding managed two thirds in handy provincial company before being imported to Macau.

Like many of the More Then Ready breed, Brilliant Life relishes the sand surface but there is no reason breeding wise why he would not acquit himself as well on the grass.

For winning jockey Peter Ho it was victory number 12 for the talented horseman this season.

Ho has always been a class act in the saddle but has really had a big boost in recent times since linking up with the Joe Lau stable.

The Joe Lau yard has produced 14 winners from only 68 runners this season giving it the best strike rate by far of any trainer of 20.5%.

Next best is Gary Moore with 23 winners from 129 starters a win rate of 17.8%, with Vincent Chong picking up seven winners from only 55 runners to give him a strike of 12.7%.