The Robert Smerdon trained Eclair Mystic struggled in the sand surface and finished last in the Group 1 Macau Sand International (1300m) at Taipa last night.

Plagued with a troubled traveling trip throughout, the four-year-old meekly gave in but all wasn’t lost for Australia.

The Aussie bred gelding Golden Star, trained by former champion Aussie jockey Gary Moore scored led throughout to win by 4-1/2 lengths beating World Fortune and race favourite Dynamic Blitz.

“He has had a few back issues in training before, but he has come good over the past month or so,” Moore said.

“I thought he would run well and could win, but not like that.

“He has given a good horse like Dynamic Blitz a serious beating.

“That horse was able to win the Group 3 Al Shindagha at Meydan earlier this year and we’ll aim for that race as well ourselves early next year.

“He might not be good enough for the Golden Shaheen on World Cup night, but we’ll take what chance we can.”

Golden Star has won 12 races and is by Statue of Liberty (USA) from the Snaadee (USA) mare Anley, a half-sister to Candles, the dam of Group 3 winning sprinter Friday Creek.

To get to Macau, Ecliar Mystic had to persist with 10 hours in a float, eight hours plane, eight hour on a barge added to hours waiting around for the connections.