Quantum Power produced a tough effort to finish third to Dispatcher at his latest run, and a similar run from a better draw will see him go very close to winning the middle leg of the HK$2 million Triple Trio at Sha Tin tomorrow.
The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained galloper broke well from a wide gate last start, but was snagged back by Zac Purton, who tried in vain to slot into a position with cover, but was made to drift right back towards the rear of the field.
After dropping to the tail, the pace slackened, and, with Quantum Power full of running underneath him, Purton allowed the gelding to truck around the field and get into the race rounding the bend.
The result was a trip four and five horses wide on the bend without cover, but Quantum Power still travelled strongly and was able to box on to the line to hold third in front of a wall of horses.
From gate two, Purton will be sitting in the box seat, smoking his pipe until they turn for home and, with plenty of extra energy saved for the sprint, Quantum Power can be expected to be a safe banker in the middle leg.
Another lightly raced Buddy Buddies appears a big danger with Brett Prebble replacing the suspended Olivier Doleuze for trainer Michael Chang Chun-wai.
Buddy Buddies missed the start at his last run on February 20, but worked home well along the rail to finish fourth behind Forest Star, who has won again since.