Kiwi combination wins Macau Derby

The Kiwi combination of trainer Paddy Busuttin, jockey Andrew Calder and owner Carl Gray teamed up with Imabayboy to win the G1 Macau Derby (1500m) at Taipa on Sunday night.

Imabayboy (NZ) benefited from rails run on the home turn to burst through and claim the classic from World Fortune (Testa Rossa) and Weathervane (Red Ransom).

Imabayboy (4g San Luis – English Kath by Kaapstad) had won the Listed Macau Guineas in February and is one of four stakes winners to date by deceased sire San Luis (Flying Spur).

Auckland real estate agent Carl Grey originally raced Imabayboy from the stable of Busuttin’s Cambridge-based son Trent.  He won 5 times in 15 starts back home and bowed out with an unplaced run in last year’s New Zealand Derby.

“He probably should have finished closer in the Derby and his form before that proved that he had a lot natural ability,” Trent Busuttin said.  “Being a big rakish horse, he was always going to get better with age.”

Imabayboy’s dam English Kath was unplaced in 7 starts before retiring to stud.  Second dam My Lady Gray (Otehi Bay) foaled the NZ stakes winners Esquire Gray (Kingdom Bay), Chance For Gold (Ashabit) and Squire Gray. (Standaan).