Trainer Tony Millard has had a wonderful season with five Group triumphs among his 32 victories and is on the verge of saluting with Monte Cristo after a driving third in the restricted Equidia Racing Channel Handicap (1,650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Monte Cristo joined the Millard stable mid-season from David Ferraris and had to undergo a second round of surgery on February 16 to correct an entrapped epiglottis, before stepping out for a battling eighth over an unsuitable 1,200m on March 27.
He was then tried over the 1,400m for a closing seventh 13 days later, before a grinding 2,000m fifth on April 25th and rallying fifth over the Sha Tin mile earlier this month when not suited by the pace.
Switching to the Valley for the second time from 34 starts, Monte Cristo was hammered in the betting - 13-1 to 5-1 - for apprentice Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.
He was urged to hold a position fractionally worse than midfield, lost about a length when having to steady off the heels of Bespoke Master at the 1,200m, was tightened by Euro Swiftly soon after checking off Super Caga at the 300m, but stayed on well when regaining his composure for third, 23/4 lengths behind smart winner Euro Swiftly in the mixed Class Three and Four contest for non-winners this season.
The seven-year-old has lost his flashy turn of foot, but appears to be getting fitter and better with each start and can turn things around with a pure Class Four race off his mark of 57 over the 1,800m or 2,000m.