John Size-trained Swift Shadow has been knocking at the door for his first local victory and gets an ideal chance to make the breakthrough in the Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (1,200m) at Happy Valley.
Size has tried the former Sydney horse at different tracks and distances lately, perhaps finding out that he isn't a miler at this stage but getting a decent tune from him over 1,400m at Sha Tin and most recently as runner-up to Rainbow Fighter over Wednesday's course in his best effort yet.
The stewards' report and the race replay reveal that Swift Shadow (Douglas Whyte) did find some trouble rounding the first turn but it made little difference to the result, with Whyte able to occupy pretty much the same position as he was going to get, trailing a very quick speed.
He burst through in the final 200m of the race along the inside but the winner had tremendous momentum up under a light weight and Swift Shadow was unable to resist his finish.
That entire scenario beckons again - perhaps this time with a kinder final result - as the trophy race of the Wednesday's meeting is loaded with forward-running horses who won't be helping the cause of one another.
With barrier three, Whyte should again be sitting on their backs getting a great trip, ready to pounce in the final 200m and a repeat of his last performance looks enough to get the job done.
His danger is another who will appreciate the fast tempo, Choice Treasure (Zac Purton) and from gate one, he will be stalking Whyte even as Swift Shadow stalks the speed runners. What separates the pair in this race is the seven pounds that the top weight will give to Swift Shadow, after Choice Treasure returned to his top form dropping back to Class Three last time, closing his race off strongly behind a good speed.
