Century Super Star to reign on dirt - again
Trainer Andreas Schutz's ultra-consistent Century Super Star took the shortest route around to score a nice course-and-distance win when resuming on September 20 and he looks a standout banker in the middle leg of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at Sha Tin.
Century Super Star ended last term in good form, and came out firing at his first run back.
Regular jockey Eddie Lai Wai-ming had him nicely tucked away in midfield and on the fence after jumping from gate two, asked for a superior effort soon after straightening and the eight-year-old overhauled leader Ever Beauty to win with authority.
The son of Last Tycoon boasts solid all-weather statistics and has been all-the-more dangerous when drawn barrier four or better, with two wins, a second and a third from as many runs.
He has to cope with a five-pound penalty, but continues to hold his condition well and will again be hard to deny from gate three.
Tony Millard's True Intelligence - a gutsy second behind Mutual Friendship when resuming last month over this surface - and Peter Ng Bik-kuen's Exploding - a good third behind Century Super Star and drawn nicely in gate one - are clearly the main dangers.
Other possible chances are Macho Expresso, King Of Hearts and Jolly Good Fortune.
In the opening leg, another old-timer in Lazy Buddies looks banker material.
The nine-year-old was never in the hunt in his first two turf appearances this season, but appreciated a switch to the dirt and finished a close-up third to Sound Of Silence and Couldn't Care Less. He meets them again but, unlike that pair, will relish the 1,800m and will get every conceivable chance from gate one with seven-pound claimer Keith Yeung Ming-Lun, fresh from a weekend four-timer, retaining the ride.
Energetic Boy has a riding change and will have to go back from gate 13, but he has made a good impression to figure in the finish in each of his three runs this term. He was a winner of his only start last season over this course and distance.
Other worthy inclusions are Sound Of Silence, Master Tower, Little Big Boy and Lucky Money Star.
Trainer David Hall's Special K is the logical choice in a tricky final leg.
He missed the kick when resuming on September 20, but was finishing best of his rivals to be a head-bob away from finishing third over this surface and trip, before another willing late effort to be a neck shy on the turf.
Hall has called on Yeung and the pair should overpower their rivals.
Mutual Friendship, Buccaneer, Har Har Charms, Diamond Knight and Longwah Rising are a few on a long list of possible place chances.
Gold rush
Tomorrow night's Sha Tin Triple Trio is expected to reach: HK$4m
