Leading City makes most of short rests
It was a case of first out and first home for jockey Gerald Mosse and Leading City in the Bulkeley Handicap (1,200m), with the French rider rating his mount well throughout before driving him clear in the straight for a comfortable win.
The Almond Lee Yee-tat trained three-year-old is building an impressive record, but he believes it could have been better after Leading City became unsettled prior to his previous race when finishing second to Mr Celerity on December 13.
'He got upset by the music being played that day and refused to let me saddle him,' Lee said. 'He was fired up before the race and would have run better if he hadn't been upset before the start. He was more relaxed today and that will be the key to him continuing to do well in the future.
'Even though he led and won well today, I think we will be able to ride him more patiently in the long term.'
Leading City has won twice and been runner-up twice in his five starts, and Lee hopes to keep his youngster lightly raced and mentally fresh as he was yesterday after a five-week break.
The trainer is hopeful that a similar break between races can also pay dividends next time, and Lee will not race Leading City until Hong Kong Derby Day on March 14.
'I will take care of him and keep him fresh and I plan on giving him his next start in six weeks time in a race on Derby Day,' Lee said.
