Slimmed-down Singing Diners ready to turn tables on rivals

Singing Diners finally looks to have won the battle of the bulge, which should allow the promising gelding to return to his best in the Panasonic Joba Handicap (1,400m).

The Danny Shum Chap-shing trained four-year-old looked a star on the rise in winning his only two appearances last season but returned this term some 44 pounds heavier and desperately in need of some racing.

He resumed after a 197-day break at Sha Tin on September 23 and never really looked like getting into the action after being posted very wide from the outside barrier, eventually winding up 11th to Lucky Hero.

He stripped off 31 pounds for his next assignment three weeks later and his performance in running fifth to Shangdong General indicated he was finally coming back to form.

From gate 10, the Danasinga gelding was posted on a limb in midfield before turning for home five wide but he knuckled down gamely in the final stages to be beaten just over two lengths despite the tough run in transit.

His weight has been posted at 1,163 pounds for this assignment, down 13 pounds on his last winning weight, suggesting he is ready for business.

Singing Diners, reunited with Eric Saint-Martin, looks likely to enjoy all the favours in the run from gate three and with an important advantage at the weights over his main dangers he should be able to return to winning form. The horse he will have to gun down will be Macho Expresso, who created a big impression when narrowly beaten by Lucky Hero.