Cruz has exciting Good Words and Multiglory ready to deliver first-up
Trainer Tony Cruz has eight runners for the opening meeting of the 2010-11 season with Good Words and Multiglory likely to draw plenty of attention in their respective races after catching the eye in an all-weather trial eight days ago.
Private purchase import Good Words returns to action in race eight, the Arbuthnot Handicap. He arrived off a mark of 73 after crushing his opposition at Moonee Valley by seven lengths over 1,200m in his only run in Australia. In his first Hong Kong start on July 7, he pressed the pace of Ever Beauty before failing by three-quarters of a length as the co-favourite in a 1,000m event at Happy Valley.
The four-year-old, a son of speedy Geiger Counter stallion Oamaru Force, was asked to work before clearing for the lead in his 1,200m trial and kept finding more for Matthew Chadwick to beat St Didar in 1.11.68, the fastest of the three trials run that morning. He looks primed and ready and should take some catching.
Rising sprinter Multiglory goes around a race earlier in the Albany Handicap. The three-year-old jumped alertly in his trial last month, stalked the lead of stablemate All Time High, surged clear rounding the final bend and continued on nicely for a neck margin from the fast-finishing KrisFlyer Sprint winner Green Birdie in 1.11.80.
The four-year-old will open at a short quote in his Class One debut, but deservedly so after making good use of his lightning speed, reminiscent of his sire King Of Danes, to finish first in four of his six starts last season, with a second and third for good measure, all over the straight 1,000m.
But it won't be a one-act affair as exciting London China Town, a winner of five of six starts for trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung, and Kildare, a former Group Three winner over the 1,000m from the Derek Cruz yard, moved nicely in separate turf trials seven days ago.
An interesting starter worth keeping an eye on is the Dennis Yip Chor-hung trained newcomer Groovy. He made a good impression in a 1,000m grass trial behind Best Win and Kildare.
Groovy, a son of smart Australian racehorse Niello, a multiple Group One winner and brother to champion Lohnro, arrived in Hong Kong after showing plenty of heart to score a narrow win over 1,200m on yielding ground in a weak maiden for three-year-olds at Seymour in Victoria in February.
He will have his hands full in Good Words' race, but has the makings of a future winner.
Peter Ho Leung's late season acquisition Lombardi (race six) showed he is ready to make his mark after trialling superbly with blinkers on August 20.
He made the frame in six of 10 outings without winning, including a second and third over this course and distance (1,200m) behind smart types in Royal Flush and Shining Victory. He is now attractively rated and must be kept safe.
