Backing up two weeks after being one of the best things beaten this season, Holyangelholy gets a second chance to notch his maiden victory over the same course and distance on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Holyangelholy stands out as a banker in the final leg of an otherwise tough Triple Trio - his last-start failure as odds-on favourite to be forgiven as the three-year-old gets a low draw against a field of similar strength.
A product of the Dream Team of trainer John Size and jockey Douglas Whyte, who have combined for an amazing 47 wins this season, Holyangelholy went into his last start looking every bit the 1.6 hot pot he was sent out, after a solid debut effort and drawing gate one. Shortly after the kick, those odds looked overs after Whyte manoeuvred into the box seat behind Maelstrom, who is in the race again on Sunday.
Favourite backers were already queuing up to collect when it became clear that Zac Purton wasn't budging from outside Whyte, and his mount wasn't tiring, leaving Holyangelholy trapped on the fence.
As Maelstrom tired, Whyte barged through a barely-there gap, but Brett Prebble on Joyful Winner II - another backing up - had already stolen a march and crucial momentum, enough to prevail by a short head as Holyangelholy dived late.
From barrier three this time, expect Whyte to avoid traffic issues by staying one-off and, given clear running in the straight, he can win, even after a three-point hike in the handicaps, which will see him carry 131 pounds.
Two definite selections for tickets are promising three-year-olds Jolly Victor (Willie Pike) and Trendsetter (Olivier Doleuze) - both drawn well and coming off eye-catching last-start runs.