Indian Road starts the new campaign from a mark of 57 and that seems to be a winning rating.

He ran just the once last season when backed down to even-money favouritism but finding Wong Tang-ping's promising New Trumps half a length too good down the 1,000-metre chute.

Biancone thought enough of him to declare him for the Juvenile Sprint Trophy, which was won so handsomely by Toy Warrior.

But Indian Road had to be withdrawn on raceday morning as he was lame in his near fore.

It is probably significant that Sanchez was down to ride Indian Road rather than the stable's other runner, Fortune Associates, who went on to run fourth, suggesting that Indian Road was the stable preferred, adding credence to the view that 57 could well be a winning mark.

Defending champion trainer David Hayes worked a number of his intended weekend runners yesterday.

Express Lot is by no means one of Hayes leading lights but all the signs are that he's in the pink.

The son of Success Express is particularly well suited to Sha Tin and while he's struck a tough Class Four contest, for which Tony Millard's recent acquisition Win For Us is likely to start a worthy favourite, he is one to keep safe in the quinella and tierce pools. Yesterday, Express Lot enjoyed a comfortable 1,200 metres under the promising claimer Henry K. C. Tsang and is another who caught the eye at an earlier trial session.

And Hayes' My Specialist looks big and well in readiness for the second section of the Class Three 1,200-metre event.

Yet again he's trialled well and can be expected to be amongst the market leaders and justifiably so.