The Pencarrow Stud graduate Rivers Elite (Mastercraftsman x Oh So Precious) raced to victory in Macau on Saturday in the M$200,000 Macau Rose Handicap (1500m).

A winner two starts ago over 1500m, Rivers Elite broke his maiden status early this year when previously trained by Choi Pou Chi. Now trained by Mr Cheong, Saturday’s win was his third from 20 starts.

Ridden by Roger Yu from barrier 4, Rivers Elite settled in fifth position, five-lengths from the leader Far Reaching (NZ) (Shinko King). Travelling at a steady tempo throughout, Rivers Elite picked up approaching the turn for home in pursuit of the front-runners.

Hitting the front line inside 200m, Rivers Elite held on for victory by a neck over Chinese Dragon (Heliostatic), who was a late challenger down the outside, with Far Reaching in third place.

The four-year-old gelding was purchased from Pencarrow Stud as a yearling by Macau’s Mr PK Ho for $40,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 National Yearling Sales Series.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, the four-year-old gelding is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Oh So Precious, who is a full-sister to the Irish-bred stakes-winner Juliette (Sadler’s Wells), and is a half-sister to stakes placegetter Plato (Lure). He is from the same family as five-time Group 1 winner and USA Horse of the Year All Along (Targowice).