A different stable, but same old results for slick Blaze King
Blaze King clocked the fastest barrier trial time of the season at Sha Tin yesterday, with a sizzling 57.20 second 1,000m hit-out for new trainer Tony Cruz that put defending KrisFlyer International Sprint winner Green Birdie in the shade.
Green Birdie was having his final blow-out for trainer Caspar Fownes and jockey Brett Prebble before he departs for Singapore to defend his crown at Kranji on May 22, but the International Group One winner was left to eat Blaze King's dust as Matthew Chadwick sat motionless on the heat winner 53/4 lengths ahead.
Formerly trained by David Hall, Blaze King has been an enigmatic sprinter capable of matching the best over the short-course one day, and unable to run four furlongs, let alone five, on others.
Blaze King's fastest time for Hall under race conditions, was a scintillating 55.56 seconds, but that was on a good-to-firm surface and when the horse wore blinkers for the first time.
The signs are still encouraging for the new camp, however, and it has been a consistent trend to see horses change stables and immediately improve their rating.
Tony Millard has enjoyed the most successful stint of his Hong Kong training career, care of Ambitious Dragon, but the South African will also be pleased with his trio of triallers from heat six.
His new Private Purchase griffin Lifeline Elite won the 800m jump-out in a time of 45.43 seconds for Douglas Whyte, with stablemates Supreme Fay Fay two lengths away in second and Hot Asset pinching third, a further 3 1/4 lengths away.
Lifeline Elite travelled nicely for a 52-rater, and, while Supreme Fay Fay was only cruising in second off his higher mark of 78, the new arrival looks likely to make an impact early in his career.
Fastalot again trialled well for trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai and claimed the final heat (1,050m) on the AWT in a time of 62.48 seconds, but the horse has already established himself as a good trial winner, and punters should wait until he improves on raceday before jumping back on this bandwagon too quickly.
