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Brett Prebble
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Marwing can get the job done

Weichong Marwing will be counted on for a well-timed come-from-behind effort on the David Ferraris-trained Sweet Orange in Sunday's Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby, and the visiting jockey will get some practice weaving a similar passage on the horse's untapped stablemate Theheroinmyheart earlier in the day.

While Sweet Orange has drawn awkwardly in 10, Theheroinmyheart jumps from barrier one in an open Class Four over 1,400m, where he can act as a banker in the middle leg of the Triple Trio.

Theheroinmyheart was unlucky at his last start. Tim Clark failed to find clear running until the final 100m from where the big-striding chestnut let down nicely for an eye-catching third at his fifth start.

It appeared as though the drop back to 1,400m from a mile and the addition of blinkers had helped switch the gelding on after a one-paced effort over the longer distance.

Theheroinmyheart was also ridden closer over the mile, which seemed to dull his sprint but, ridden cold and in the shades, he showed a turn of foot that could easily win a Class Four, especially from a mark of 50 with 123 pounds on his back.

Racing consistently, but reaching a tougher mark in the ratings is David Hall's Nicholson (Brett Prebble), who will lump top weight from barrier eight. He goes in, along with Solar Great (Keith Yeung Ming-lun), who has drawn wide in two Class Three starts and should be competitive dropping back in grade, Grand Elite (Gerald Mosse) and Lucky Nistelrooy (Umberto Rispoli).

In the final leg, a Class Three over 1,200m, three horses will all come in for significant support. Last-start winners Moneymaker (Douglas Whyte), Racing Reward (Olivier Doleuze) and John Moore's three-year-old Cosmic Boom (Jeff Lloyd).

Barrier two and obvious upside give the edge to the Richard Gibson-trained Racing Reward as a banker. The four-year-old had just one start in New Zealand before a disappointing debut when sent out with support. He bounced back with a professional win next start, albeit after getting a soft run. It's not hard to imagine improvement to match his six-point ratings rise and he could get the same sort of run from the low gate.

As far as John Size-trained horses go, Moneymaker appears to have his limitations and will be hampered by barrier eight, but he is honest and must be included.

Cosmic Boom will start under the odds, with gate 11 a real hindrance for the speedy type, but he will eventually climb out of the grade and, his ability means, he has to be included in the mix.

Alpha Grand (Prebble) and Deep Thinker (Zac Purton) are two others to consider, but this is a race to play narrow, with the first leg offering innumerable permutations.

Tony Millard's Sudden Thunder (Whyte) would seem the stand out after looming to go past The Peak at his second start, but the only concern is a wide draw (12).

Others to play around with are Divinity Power (Prebble), Real General (Mark du Plessis), Silver Dragon (Mosse) and Sunshine Boy (Ben So Tik-hung).

7%

Last season's winning strike rate for David Ferraris and Weichong Marwing

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