MASTER ALBERT 馬功臣

29th January 2020

Price Bloodstock’s Master Albert gets a bad rap from punters, who often send him out as one of the favourites only to see him finish close without winning but for his owners the honest six-year-old’s victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night was the continuing story of cashing cheques.

Karis Teetan brought him with a well-timed run coming off some good speed and Master Albert never really looked in any doubt.

This was only the second win for the strong-finishing gelding and, the way he won, that’s hard to believe but he does pay for himself all the same.

In 33 starts, Master Albert has banked prizemoney in 22 of those races, with 18 of them top four finishes.

“He’s always knocking on the door, he’s very honest,” said trainer Chris So. “But his style of racing means he needs things to go his way – good draw, the right pace, he needs the luck. But he really does try hard and if he gets those things he could win again. There’s nothing wrong with him or his attitude.”

The success took the gelding’s prizemoney to $3.5 million and So said that record of earnings would look even better but for a minor injury last season.

“Last year he had a back problem but he had a lot of physiotherapy and we fixed it,” So explained. “He’s been really sound this season and has been racing well without winning – in 8 runs this season, he hasn’t missed a cheque. Tonight things fell into place.”