Gate test for Deerfield

TRAINER Neville Begg is staking the International Bowl hopes of Deerfield on a special stalls test at Sha Tin on Friday, less than an hour before declarations for Sunday's Stewards' Cup.

The respected Australian mentor has to gate-test the exciting Deerfield after a hiccup at the stalls on Saturday when the American-bred star eventually finished second to Noble Dancer.

''I decided against taking him to Happy Valley tomorrow morning for the trials. I did not want to send him over there and it will all now hinge on his Friday test. If he does come through that all right then I am almost certain to declare him for Sunday and then we will see how he goes,'' said Begg.

A bit of tightening and a couple of whacks across the nose from a rival's whip did not help Deerfield on Saturday, when a win would have almost guaranteed him a place in the International line-up.

Now, it comes down to a tense gate test - and a highly competitive Sunday event.