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Exciting Eyshal to be thrown in at deep end for Gold Cup

All systems go at Moore's stable with return of Beadman

In the absence of a Group One contest, leading trainer John Moore's afternoon couldn't have been much better yesterday at Sha Tin - the Group Three feature, a highly-promising horse remained unbeaten and his stable jockey returned to winning form with a clean bill of health.

Weichong Marwing continued his recent association with the Moore yard as he landed the trainer's fourth victory in the Jebsen Centenary Vase (1,800m) to take Eyshal into difficult territory, but it was a happy Darren Beadman and Happy Zero who coasted home in the final event.

'I'm not quite 100 per cent yet but I'm a whole lot better than I was before I went back to Sydney and it feels good again,' said Beadman, who had returned to riding only last Wednesday following an enforced spell due to muscle wastage in his right quadriceps.

The jockey had undergone intensive treatment in Sydney to rebuild the muscle system and now has a personal trainer helping him continue the good work.

'The important thing was to get it right this time and prevent a recurrence and I think I have.'

Not that much of Beadman's finishing power was required to get Happy Zero home for his third win from three starts, with the three-year-old making light of 132 pounds to stroll in, despite rising in distance as well as weight.

'Darren told me the way Happy Zero relaxed for him he thinks he would run a mile already,' Moore said. 'He said he was very confident in running, managed to avoid the traffic jam at the top of the straight and Happy Zero kicked clear like a horse with a good future.'

While Happy Zero's progression into Class Two next start has hardly been a surprise to the stable, Beadman said there was a time when Happy Zero clearly had the ability but his temperament was going to be the big question.

'He could have gone one way or the other when he came here - he was a bit screwy at first and even his first race he was a bit hot and aggro,' Beadman said. 'But fortunately he's gone the right way and he was perfect today. I was happy to get him in behind horses and try to teach him something but he took to it beautifully anyway. He relaxed through the race, quickened when asked and he has the makings of a very good horse. He's got it all.'

As for Eyshal, who is owned in the same interests as Happy Zero, there was good news and bad news.

The good news was a Group Three win and his fourth victory from seven starts this term - the bad news was a likely ratings rise from yesterday's 106 mark that will put him, as Moore put it, 'in no man's land' and up against his star stablemate. 'Once you get over 105, the club determines your programme and there is nowhere to hide,' Moore said.

'He's going to be on 111 or 112 after this and there's nothing to do but put him in the Gold Cup and see how he goes. I suppose funnier things have happened on a racecourse, but against the great Viva Pataca I wouldn't give him much chance. Hopefully he can get some prize money.'

Marwing sat off the speed on Eyshal in contrast to his leading role last time at Happy Valley and that made the winning difference. 'Leading was probably a mistake at the Valley, but today he had the weight turnaround on Best Friend, we gave him a chance sitting off them and he showed his turn of foot,' Moore said.

Grand plans

Eyshal has a chance of taking on the big guns in the Gold Cup over: 2,000m

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