Punters find weight no object for Rain
Early punters seem confident that champion stayer Vengeance Of Rain can 'do a Fairy King Prawn' by winning today's National Day Cup first-up with the stopper of 133 pounds.
It takes a horse of true Group One ability to win a Premier race here with 133 pounds, as the tremendous win by Hong Kong's first international hero in the 2001 edition of this race underlined.
For the past two years, the only horse capable of doing the same was Super Kid, another proven Group One performer, earlier this year.
On last night's 6pm tote call, Vengeance Of Rain was a $37 favourite to defeat a red-hot field of horses who are specialists at the shorter trips. Tony Cruz's pair, Helene Pillaging and Fokine, were the next in demand at $75 and $84 respectively.
The shortest-priced favourite on the big Sha Tin programme last night was the David Oughton-trained American Victory, who headed the market at $27 for the fourth event, a Class Four over 1,400 metres.
However, there's every chance a strong move for the Douglas Whyte-ridden Kowloon Fit could see him usurped as favourite, especially if there's some roll-up money from any of Whyte's earlier winners on the programme.
Once again, the Durban Demon has a crackerjack book of rides and will be the focus of punter opinion in many races, especially when teaming with John Size's horses. In addition to Kowloon Fit, the trainer-jockey combination has winning chances with Super Honey (race three), Winning Bullet (race six) and Fortune Princess (race 10).
