Yiu points the Way in opening leg of huge TT
The amazing transformation of the Ricky Yiu Poon-fie stable looks set to continue at Sha Tin on Sunday with the improving Global Way in the opening leg of a massive Triple Trio jackpot.
The Jockey Club has boosted the pool by HK$23 million, with the main prize on offer expected to reach HK$40 million, and Global Way looks an appealing banker after finally coming up with a favourable barrier draw.
Yiu has been one of the surprise packets of the season, with 23 winners from only 144 runners, highlighted by the unbeaten run of rising star Sacred Kingdom. Yiu is the leading trainer by strike rate (15.9 per cent).
While Global Way has hardly set the world on fire in his 11-start career, his last performance when switched to the all-weather track over 1,650 metres indicated he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
The Cadeaux Genereaux gelding was caught wide off a fast pace after jumping from gate 13, but he showed good fight in the final stages to finish fourth to Bauhinia, just over two lengths from the winner.
From gate four, Gerald Mosse should give the five-year-old an easy run on the back of the speed and he won't have to make any great improvement to be the one to beat.
His main danger will come from Three Clubs, who has performed well in his only two all-weather track assignments, while others entitled to claims are Cenamria, Win Fortune and Couldn't Care Less.
It's hard to go past Spring Smiles in the middle pin when searching for a banker after the gelding made up for some disappointing efforts with an eye-catching performance last start.
The Paul O'Sullivan-trained gelding knuckled out of the barriers and settled last before rocketing home to finish second to the in-form Joyful Years.
He should be able to position closer this time from gate one under Danny Nikolic and will only need to be in striking distance turning in to get over the top of his main rivals - Magic Touch, King Creole, Mythic Steed and Tattenhall Delight.
The final leg appears tricky but Operation Secret looks most appealing on the back of his excellent performance behind Horace's Choice, who has franked the form by winning again.
Thunder Dancing, Happy Master, Circuit Hero, Magi Joy and Laser Tiger are the others to keep safe.
