The Caspar Fownes-trained Marco Polo showed a massive impression at long odds after thundering home to finish fourth in the Class Four Cypress Handicap (1,000m) at Happy Valley.
He still looks inexperience, but with maturity and more education, it's only a matter of time before the Australian-bred enters the winner's circle on either surfaces or distances.
Marco Polo stepped out for the first time as a griffin over the Sha Tin straight 1,000m in July and kept on well to finish sixth behind Fiery Whisperer.
Off a ground-giving seventh to Novel Start in an all-weather track trial on September 11, Marco Polo returned 15 days ago under the guidance of Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, but made no impression after covering ground behind China Good over this course and distance.
Tye Angland replaced Ho this time, and Marco Polo was again unwanted in the betting at 40-1. Breaking two stalls better in gate seven, the youngster was given a quiet time at the back, before improving at the 800m, straightened about seven lengths behind the leader, before letting down powerfully in a final split of 22.64 seconds to go under by 13/4 lengths behind the victorious Secret Of Winning.
The three-year-old is by Redoute's Choice stallion Not A Single Doubt, who was a four-time sprint winner up to 1,200m and has fathered Tai Sing Yeh (six-time Valley sprint winner), Enhanced (1,400m winner) and Dance For Gold (two wins over 1,000m and 1,200m) among his eight other starters in Hong Kong.
His dam, Dolphin Street mare Marmalade Miss never made it to the races, but produced a half-sister to Marco Polo by Umatilla, who managed three wins over 1,000m in Australia. Marmalade Miss is also a half-sister to the dam of Paris Heartbeat, a Listed winner of 12 races up to 1,500m in Australia, and to the retired Brave Star, a four-time winner - three on the dirt.
