The Macau Derby currently serves as the second leg of the Macau Triple Crown series. This is the newest addition to the world of international Triple Crown events, with the series itself only starting a decade prior.
This Group 1 event is open to horses aged four and extends over 1800m of turf at Taipa Racecourse in May of each year. The track itself is right-handed. A weight requirement of 9-0 stones or 126 pounds applies to all competitors.
location: Taipa Racecourse
grade: Group 1 (Champions League)
race type: Flat
The Macau Derby is the richest race of the Triple Crown series with a purse of HK$2.6 million. This is nearly as much as the other two fixtures, the Macau Guineas and the Macau Gold Cup, combined (as of 2017).
In 2009, it was integrated into the series as the second leg in the Macau Triple Crown. Interestingly, Australian racehorses have had a strong presence in the short history of the series. In the 2009 running, the first three horses across the Derby line were Sunshine Sure Winner, Ecstatic Macau, and Golden Pistols and all of them were all Australian bred.
These records reflect the athletic achievements of competitors that have run in the Macau Derby since it became an integral part of the Macau Triple Crown series in 2009 (as of 2017).
In 2011, Imabayboy set a class record time of 1 minute and 47.8 seconds for the distance of 1800m.
Since the inception of the Macau Triple Crown, only four have completed the Derby/Gold Cup double. These include Farson (2008), Luen Yat Forever (2010), Elderly Paradise (2012), and Lucky And Wealthy (2013).
In addition, only three have completed the Guineas/Derby double including Sunshine Sure Win (2009), Luen Yat Forever (2010), and Imabayboy (2011).
These are a few of the best moments in the history of the Macau Derby in its relatively new role as a prestigious Triple Crown event (as of 2017).
The 2011 event was momentous as Imabayboy became only the third to complete the Guineas/Derby double since the establishment of the Macau Triple Crown series. In addition, he broke the class record for speed at 1800m previously set by Golden Delivery in 1995. Tragically, a fractured knee, acquired from the strain of running in the Derby, prevented him from going on to win the Gold Cup.
In 2013, 23/1 shot Lucky And Wealthy came in first with 14/1 Leunyat Blackberry and 37/1 Wonder Mossman placing second and third for the biggest upset in recent history. The favourites placed mid-field baffling punters.
