A perfect rails hugging ride by New Zealand jockey Andrew Calder paved the way for Derby glory for Imabayboy to take out the second leg of the Macau Triple Crown at the Taipa racetrack on Sunday.

From barrier six Calder found the rail out of the straight the first time and from then on never went around a runner. Imabayboy burst to the front at the 150 and found plenty to hold off the late charge by World Fortune (Greg Cheyne), with Weathervane (James McDonald) running in third.

“I am just rapt this is such a big thrill.” Calder said

“I was a bit worried that the track might have been a bit firm for him, we know that he loves the cut out of the ground, but the track was perfect.”

“I knew I had to ride him for luck, I knew I could not go around them and win.”

“Everything went just perfect in the run, I followed Stanley Chin on Viva Ocho until just before the turn and just as I wanted to improve he rolled off the fence and I just got the best run through.”

Calder, in a hit and run visit here in February won the first leg of the Macau Triple Crown the $1 million dollar Group 1 Macau Guineas on Imabayboy, and is currently riding in the enclave on a three month contract.

Imabayboy’s win in the Group 1 blue riband event set a new race record of 1.47.8, clipping .06 off the old standard set by Golden Delivery back in 1995.

The chesnut gelding’s victory has given trainer Paddy Busuttin a special place in racing history having now won a Derby in three different countries.

Busuttin won his first Derby way back in 1989 in New Zealand with his grand old galloper Castletown.

Imabayboy

The former Singapore Horse of The Year Bocelli gave Busuttin his second Derby in 2001 when he was based in the Lion City.

Busittin was full of praise for Andrew Calder after the win and also paid tribute to owner Carl Gray.

“It was just a perfect ride by Andrew.”

“This is just great, I am so thrilled for the owner Carl he has been a huge support to me, without him I would not be here.” Busuttin said.

“I also want to pay a compliment to my trackrider Katie Hercock and all my staff I’ve got a great team around me.”

For Auckland based Real Estate Developer Carl Gray it was a bold move to relocate his horses to Macau, but according to Gray it became more of a necessity.

“Paddy and I have been mates for years so I wanted to help him get set up.”

“And honestly with the disastrous drop in prizemoney in New Zealand racing, I think I would have had no option but to quit racing.”

“I am so passionate about my racing I’ve always loved it and now Macau has given me a great opportunity to continue and I’ve won two Group 1 races and a Derby to boot.”

“The people at the MJC are terrific; I’m surprised more foreigners are not racing horses here.”

And as well I love coming to Macau it’s such a great place.”

Gray currently has eight horses in training with Busuttin in the enclave with five more on the way.

“They are all three year olds and they will be aimed at the Derby next year.”

“I’ve got a sister to Imabayboy who is smarter then him so I’m really looking forward to getting her over here.”

Imabayboy now will try to emulate the feat of Luen Yat Forever who became Macau’s first Triple Crown winner with a clean sweep of all three legs last year.

With the final leg the Macau Gold Cup traditionally run on wet ground, Imabayboy looms as a super chance to seal the Triple Crown on May 8th.