Chevalier King looks a good thing for TT fans
Chevalier King has been awesome in his last four 1,000 metre runs at Happy Valley and remains the clear pick in the middle leg of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at the city track.
John Moore's three-year-old had shown ability in his first handful of starts at Sha Tin, including two seconds over the straight 1,000m in January.
He was then sent to the Valley and, after a flat seventh over the 1,200m in mid-March with a hood and second-time crossed noseband applied, Chevalier King has looked simply smashing in victory - and defeat - in his four runs over the 1,000m.
He dominated a Class Four field on April 7 under stable jockey Darren Beadman, then hit the front 120m out and coasted home 13/4 lengths ahead of rival At Moment In Time 14 days later in Class Three under Eddie Lai Wai-ming. He then made it three on the trot with a game effort to gun down Eternal Beauty on May 12 - again for Lai.
At his latest start on June 9 in the Cricket Club Valley Stakes, Chevalier King put his head down at the start and spotted the field a few lengths, but produced an enormous run to finish 11/2 lengths behind the talented London China Town.
The son of Cape Cross will have to carry 133 pounds with Beadman in the saddle, but he is drawn perfectly and looks too classy for this field.
At Moment In Time has had no excuses in two defeats behind Chevalier King, but has made the frame in four of five starts over this course and distance, including a handy win, and stands out as the second choice.
Fly High, Towkay Flyer, Our Pegasus, Ever Beauty and newcomer Good Words can fight it out for the third prize.
No jockey on the planet is hotter than Douglas Whyte, who has racked up 12 victories from his last three meetings, and looks to have another win in the bank with the Peter Ho Leung-trained Viva Guy in the opening leg.
The three-year-old has yet to miss the placings in three outings over this course and distance (1,650m), including a smart win.
King Acrylic is hard to recommend on his overall form, but won in this grade in January over the 1,400m at Sha Tin and should get every chance from gate five with Kevin Leung Ka-wai's 10-pound allowance.
Sparkling Feeling, a last-start winner, Unique Speed and Sleep Well are worth considering.
Caspar Fownes' Perfect Gear excels over the Valley sprint (1,200m), having bagged three wins and three placings from seven outings, and is a standout in the final leg.
Easy Winner was an exciting trip winner three starts back and has held his form well in two runs over the 1,400m at Sha Tin in good company. He is a logical dual banker from a perfect gate.
Union's Star, Finn Maccool and Happy Reunion can battle it out for the final spot.
