PATRICK Biancone's Flirting Dancer burst back to form with a quality barrier trial win in the fifth of nine heats down the straight 1,000-metre grass track at Sha Tin yesterday morning.
The former star private purchase griffin won first time out this season before disappointing when sent over farther than 1,400 metres and could just have been running over too long a trip.
Yesterday he showed an impressive burst of speed to run past David Hill's Debonair, who also went well, in the final 100 metres. Optic Empire ran third but did not impress in this heat.
In contrast Neville Begg's Local Colour went like a future winner when chasing stablemate Star Of Lihlin home in the sixth. He looks worth a bet on this effort, particularly given a most eye-catching run last time out.
Peter Ng Bik-kuen's Class One performer, Endurance, went as if poised to return to form when holding Deerfield's strong run in the fourth in which Lawrie Fownes' Kadbridge went smoothly.
In this trial Ivan Allan's much-vaunted Class One import from Australia, McBrave, was pushed along to some extent after halfway to make up some ground but may need more time to come to himself.
The opening heat saw a decisive victory from Biancone's Lucky Century who went strongly to the line from Hill's Al Bundy.