Another night of stupidly-run, stop-start races made it difficult to find any worthwhile form on Wednesday at Happy Valley, with most races unable to produce definitive answers, which will stand scrutiny in the future, but Pearl Win's soft victory was an exception.
While stewards chided Gerald Mosse for pressing on with Lovely Boy from a wide gate, the competition for the lead between he and Tomodachi made for a rare true tempo and a race, which will produce some form.
Pearl Win, by Savabeel from a Danasinga mare, trotted up and the best part of his race was the final 100m. He has been kept mostly to 1,200m so far and did look a touch too keen for his own good when he tried 1,400m earlier in the term at Sha Tin, but his breeding and manner suggest that he is not a pure 1,200m horse.
He went up 10 points in the handicaps for the easy win, but Pearl Win remains in Class Four and should also remain competitive. When he is ready, he will certainly run further, and perhaps 1,650m at Happy Valley will be more suitable than longer at Sha Tin as the constant turning of the city course can assist horses in relaxing.
Behind Pearl Win, Fire Starter looks a winner in waiting, improving on three unspectacular but worthwhile efforts to hold down second. The three-year-old has speed, has his heart in the right place and looks certain to find the right race in the near future.
And punters shouldn't drop Kynam for his seventh and the handicapping department has assisted by dropping the John Moore-trained three-year-old two points yesterday.
Kynam was scratched in early January after problems with tying up - a muscle enzymes issue - and didn't gallop for more than a week afterwards, so his fitness was a query.
He showed good speed on Wednesday before knocking up in the straight and will be fitter for having the race. Kynam has featured in the Black Book column previously, and while his season hasn't quite come together yet, he is better than Class Four.
