Victory Style ready to greet the judge
Victory Style hasn't reached the winner's circle in nearly 43 months, but he put the writing on the wall last time that he is ready to get back in the groove.
With the Triple Trio not being won at the last three midweek meetings, the main prize is estimated to reach HK$16 million, and the Gary Ng Ting-keung-trained six-year-old looks a standout banker under regular rider Eddie Lai Wai-ming in the final leg at Happy Valley tomorrow night.
Victory Style has been knocking on the door in four runs over the 1,650m at the city course, but it was his last effort that caught the eye when he came with a barnstorming finish for a close-up second to Soviet Pearl. He was heavily backed that night to beat the favourite, too.
His first run at the Valley was a fast-finishing neck second to Lambro on March 11. Then, after struggling off a wide trip at Sha Tin, he returned with another stylish late run to finish a neck third to Toy Story before a held-up fourth to Super Genki on May 27.
Besides an unplaced run from gate 14 over the 1,400m at Sha Tin when resuming, the son of Alhaarth is going to be fitter for two runs and, with Easy Ahead, Bullish Win and possibly Luminous to ensure a good tempo, he should prove too strong for his opposition.
Happy Go Lucky looks ideal double-banker material. He is unbeaten in two outings over the course and distance when scraping home earlier this month in a strong Class Four and has the tactical speed to figure from gate six.
Easy Ahead, Speedy Warrior, Bullish Win, Happy Ambassador and Super Genki are place chances.
Holiday Sun and O'Reilly Magic have a strong chance of repeating a quinella result at the October 10 meeting and can act as the anchors in the middle pin.
Holiday Sun powered home to score a 1 1/4-length win on that occasion and should be in the firing line throughout from gate one, while O'Reilly Magic was definitely in need of that outing and looks hard to deny with trainer Casper Fownes calling on the experience of Gerald Mosse.
Ever King, Electronic Master, Spirit Of Lo Pan, Lucky Money and Soldier are the main opposition.
The TT winner will need to be at his luckiest in a tough opening leg, though Galaxee is likely to be one of the main fancies after showing he is coming in to form with a solid third a fortnight ago over the 1,800m on dirt.
He went close to beating Sweet Baby in his only 2,200m appearance last season.
Sure Gain, a handy last-start winner in Class Five and proven over this trip, appears a definite danger, while Something Special, Wong's Favourite, Victory Mascot, Fantastic Guy and Visionario are among a host of other possible chances.
