Quick back-up should benefit Flying Keeper

A quick back-up should help the Caspar Fownes-trained break a winless streak in a Class Five contest and kick off the Triple Trio as a banker at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Fownes is one of the best at successfully starting horses at consecutive race meetings and Flying Keeper comes into the 1,400m event off an encouraging fourth in a cellar-grade event at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. In a 1,000m race dominated by on-pace runners, Flying Keeper - the 3.8 favourite - closed off the best of the backmarkers. The five-year-old finished less than three lengths away from all-the-way winner Ocean Roar and the step up in trip suits this time.

Flying Keeper last won in December, one of three victories, all of which have been in the bottom grade. It has been nine runs since then and in the last four there have been signs Flying Keeper is ready.

Purton remains in the saddle and needs to navigate from gate eight. He should get suitable speed, with the one-dimensional drawn three with Ben So Tik-hung likely to set the pace.

Include (Olivier Doleuze), who is having his first start for new trainer Richard Gibson. He comes in without a trial but recorded a smart time at trackwork on Monday morning. Gibson has proven he can give horses like this one a new lease of life and Dragon Pins has been getting closer to his maiden win as he dropped through the ratings.

Others to throw in are (Gerald Mosse), (Brett Prebble) and (Richard Fourie).