Stable Mail won over 1,650 metres on the all-weather on December 3 and that remains his only Hong Kong win at the present time. The Danehill gelding was formerly a useful two and three-year-old in Ireland in his younger days, where he won on both good and soft ground.

Stable Mail's best performance before his importation was a victory in the Solonaway Stakes, a Listed race for three-year-olds over a mile at the Curragh in September, 2004. However, as a youngster, he had finished fifth in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, beaten only 21/4 lengths in the race generally accepted as Europe's top race for juveniles.

The big bay galloper originally came to Hong Kong in the David Hayes yard, but like so many northern hemisphere imports took his time to settle in.

Since with Fownes this season, Stable Mail has started to find his feet although it's been surprising that his best form has been on the all-weather track rather than on turf.

In this trial, Coetzee settled Stable Mail midfield on the fence, some six lengths off the leader Majin Buu. He railed up approaching the turn, took a split between runners and finished much too well.

Hail The Storm, preparing for next Saturday's Group Two Derby Trial (1,800m) went well under Douglas Whyte. The West Australian-bred galloper settled back and wide, coming to the outside at the top of the straight and passing all but the winner.

To be critical, Whyte asked for a bit more of an effort inside the last furlong and Hail The Storm's response was to keep on at the one pace, and at the line he had only a head to spare over stablemate Cheeky, who had raced wide without cover throughout and certainly wasn't hitting the line strongly.

Inverness, trained by Alex Wong Yu-on, ran reasonably to finish fifth after being one of the leaders most of the way. The gelding, who has a number of decent placings to his credit but is yet to win one, looked in need of the outing and his fitness should clean up significantly with this trial behind him.

Fifty Fifty looked good taking the second trial under Fownes' apprentice Jacky Tong Chi-kit. The near-black gelding was either leader or joint leader throughout the 1,200m trial and moved away when Tong kicked him into gear in the final 200m.

Fifty Fifty started the season promisingly, with a good first-up second to Joyful Winner - a performance which looks eminently respectable now that the John Moore-trained Joyful Winner has worked his way through to Premier class.

Second-up, Fifty Fifty ran second to Gem of India in very fast time in the Panasonic Cup. On this occasion, the New Zealand-bred galloper was handled by Brett Prebble and was hailed the winner until Gem of India descended on the scene late, from last, with a powerful finishing burst.

Fifty Fifty then lost his way after those two hard runs and Fownes took the option of giving him a short break so as to have him fresher at the back end of the season. On the evidence of this trial, it may prove a winning move.

Miraculous turned in another respectable trial performance to finish second, beaten two lengths. However, it's hard to be flagging him as a future winner because his eight starts to date have failed to result in so much as a single placing.

He must be proving a frustrating horse for Derek Cruz, but it may be that he'll soon find an all-weather race to suit, now that he's dropped to the bottom grade.

The best performance in the trial, outside the winner, came from Dordenma, ridden by Whyte. A major disappointment at Happy Valley last start, Dordenma had to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards before being allowed to return to the races.

He worked home stylishly under his own steam to finish fifth, without coming off the bridle at any stage.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Stable Mail, Fifty Fifty, Dordenma.