Thumbs Up throws down the gauntlet
He may not be a flashy worker in the mornings, but Thumbs Up definitely looked a different horse in yesterday's opening turf barrier trial (1,600m) at Sha Tin.
The five-year-old saves his best for race days, but Brett Prebble made sure there was no slacking from the five-year-old this time around as he got him to focus on the job from the time the starter said go.
The Danny Shum-trained gelding travelled strongly at the back and, once heads turned for home, Prebble asked him for an effort and he zoomed over the top of his opposition to score by a ?length over much-improved Arion Of Chiu Ton.
The performance from the son of Shinko King signalled a warning to Viva Pataca and company. Viva Pataca also trialled well yesterday morning down the 1,000m straight course. All the big guns are targeting the Group Three Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on October 25.
Thumbs Up arrived from New Zealand in 2007 with good credentials and he never let down his new owners with a string of smart performance last season, including a brilliant win in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile over talented More Bountiful and a second to Collection in the Hong Kong Derby.
Prebble continued on his winning way when Blaze King coasted to a cosy 7-3/4 length win over newcomer Mr Celerity - from the yard of Tony Millard - in the second turf heat (800m).
Blaze King has improved leaps and bounds since moving to trainer David Hall during the off season as he gave his rivals a galloping lesson to clock a smart time of 45.96 seconds - his final sectional in just 21.9 seconds.
Trainer Paul O'Sullivan looks to have found a nice prospect in Lombardi, who dismantled his rivals in the seventh heat (1,000m) under the guidance of Zac Purton.
Lombardi, who arrived from Australia off a 68 rating, has impressed on the training track in the mornings, and the trial win indicated he is set to take a lot of beating when produced by the Kiwi trainer.
The Flying Spur gelding, a one-time winner from four starts in Australia under the name of Dependant, also impressed when leading all the way to win a September 22 trial and he has clearly settled in well to his new environment.
