Underrated John Size-trained Sapelli returns to his best course in the Chek Keng Handicap (1,800m) at Sha Tin today and gets his chance to upset Derby-bound favourite Smart Giant.
Sapelli (Douglas Whyte) flies under the radar as an honest type just short of the best around, but there has been nothing at all wrong with how he has been racing. He has just been looking for the right race and he finds it this time.
With three wins from seven starts over the Sha Tin 1,800m, including his career highlight in the Group Three Premier Plate last season beating Mighty High, Sapelli produces his very best at the trip but is starved of opportunity as he hovers around triple figures in the ratings.
Since that Premier Plate, his only chance to run over the Sha Tin 1,800m came earlier this season in the Ladies' Purse when he was too far off a slow speed to win but outfinished the likes of Destined For Glory, Fat Choy Oohlala and Let Me Handle It to get into fourth place.
There was no missing his strong-finishing runs over an insufficient 1,400m thereafter until the firm track and the short trip were just too much for Sapelli on international day behind Captain Sweet.
He comes back from legitimate Class One company to a glorified Class Two, gets his distance, a decent draw and looks nicely placed on his better form.
Pace again looks Sapelli's enemy, with no obvious leader in the race, though Cartoon Fay Fay wears blinkers for the first time and has shown some speed in his only race at 1,400m and his trials in blinkers since. He may take up the running but without much pressure, unless lightly weighted Liberator goes forward to get in and offset his outside draw.