GARY Carter is to head home to England after a shorter-than-expected Hong Kong stay but he can end his stint as he began it in September - on a winning note.
Carter partners regular ride Lucky Touch in the sixth event today and they have what it takes to beat a fairly ordinary Class Four field.
On the opening day of the campaign he won the featured Kwangtung Cup on Our Pal but winners have been relatively scarce since and Carter wisely opted last week to return to England for the start of the new season there.
The Derek Cruz-trained Lucky Touch has twice run into a couple of horses just a shade too good on the day in his most recent outings but his overall form suggests he is up to winning in this grade and he is unlikely to get a better chance than today.
Lucky Touch has not been in action for five weeks since running fourth behind Pretty Long Legs at Happy Valley and he had been backed up very quickly off a run behind Bounty to compete at the city track.
Trainer Cruz wisely gave him a breather after the Valley run and he has brought him back seriously over the past couple of weeks. Two of his most recent workouts have been excellent and Lucky Touch looks in perfect condition for a solid crack at the money here.