Improving Packing Power to bulldoze his opposition
Improving young sprinter Packing Power has been impressive in his efforts from wide draws, so the drop into a better gate for the Hong Tung Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley tonight should be enough to get him back into the winner's circle.
With no trophy race on the card, the last race looks one of the more attractive events, with some worthwhile youngsters on show, and the Caspar Fownes-trained Packing Power (Brett Prebble) looks the one they have to beat.
After two moderate efforts, Fownes gave the lightly raced four-year-old a break and Packing Power relished that handling, returning in a much better frame of mind mid-season.
Following a slashing second to El Zonda in March over 1,000m, Packing Power overcame the disadvantage of a wide draw to win impressively stepping up to 1,200m two runs ago.
That earned him favouritism for his latest fourth to Elite Sixty Six, but the gelding was by no means disappointing. Taken back from a wide draw, the soft early pace was not his ally but he closed off strongly.
He has had little exposure, so whether he will be closer from gate five is a question he can answer this time, but if he is, then he is going to take some holding.
One of the interesting aspects of the race is the tempo, with the lack of any obvious leader probably not a plus for Packing Power, but the key might lie with Watch What Happens.
He showed plenty of speed on the dirt last start, being sent forward to contest the lead by Brett Doyle before compounding quickly in the straight. This time he will be ridden by 10-pound claimer Kevin Leung Ka-wai and the significance of that engagement may be known in the early stages if Watch What Happens again goes forward because he is a fierce-going horse and might prove too much for Leung to handle.
That would change the game and set the race up for run-ons, including Packing Power, El Zonda (Matthew Chadwick) and Elegance Desire (Darren Beadman).
One horse who should be much closer to the pace is Sunseeker (Zac Purton). The three-year-old ran well at his local debut up the straight 1,000m, but it is worth noting he was an on-pace runner in Australia, where he always wore blinkers. Trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai has put them on again tonight.
Packing Power has been to the races seven times for one win and one placing, for stakes of: $752,250
