Flamme D'Or at odds to set Valley ablaze
HE'S never started at lower than 40-1 so if Flamme D'Or lands the fourth event at Happy Valley tomorrow night it ought to ensure a good Double Trio payout.
Trainer Alex Wong Yu-on has had to be extremely patient with Flamme D'Or as the horse has had problems since arriving in Hong Kong as a griffin but there were indications at his first start of the season - and only his fourth lifetime appearance - that he could be heading for better things.
Ridden by Australian Peter Hutchison, who was off the mark with a good winner in Gold Yue Yee on Saturday, Flamme D'Or came from well off the pace to be just over three lengths from winner Easy Beat over 1,600 metres at Sha Tin.
The Australian import is bred to get a trip so tomorrow night's 1,800-metre event, now that he has had the benefit of that earlier run, should suit down to the ground.
As he has been so lightly raced it is difficult to know just how much ability Flamme D'Or might have but at least at the bottom end of Class Five he is not facing too much of a test.
That first run was over a mile and as he was doing his best work at the end of it, the step up in distance looks ideal and Hutchinson had the benefit of that excellent morale-booster at the weekend.
Topweight Saint Dragon Hill will be all the rage and very hard to beat, too.
In the same race he finished a head behind Easy Beat in second place so Flamme D'Or has three lengths to find. He is three pounds better off and has also drawn in barrier four while Danny Lee will be jumping from the extreme outside in the 10-runner race. It all helps.
Saint Dragon Hill has won handily over this course and distance but will be almost certainly at short odds. But he is the one to beat.
Lawrie Fownes has also put plenty of work into Rock N Reel and he looks best of those without a previous run.
Sir Barnley has come a fair way down the scale since first racing here and in the middle of Class Four over 1,800 metres he looks a banker for the second leg of the Double Trio.
