LOCAL hero Tony Cruz stormed back to form with a treble at Sha Tin on Saturday and he looks the jockey to follow again tonight during the final meeting on the Valley equitrack. Cruz, a former multiple champion jockey, has found the dirt a happy hunting ground over the past few seasons. He and Basil Marcus have ridden many more winners on this surface than the other riders. On Saturday, Cruz found two of his winners supplied by John Moore and his best chance this evening looks to be on Moore's High Reward in a thin looking fifth event where the dangers are few and far between. High Reward has not shown much resolution in the past. That is not in dispute. But he has seldom, if ever, worked better and he was badly hampered when fifth to Zakarad in a more competitive Class Five event at Sha Tin than he tackles tonight. With normal luck in running he might well have run the quinella. Prior to that he was a creditable length second to equitrack specialist Wind Traveller over tonight's course and distance. High Reward had Solar Century 33/4 lengths back in fourth that evening, but could well find that rival a tougher nut to crack this time as Solar Century has improved since being fitted with blinkers by trainer David Oughton. But Cruz's sympathetic handling is likely to bring out the best in this enigmatic performer. Just as it did with Master Eagle in Saturday's final event. Champion Mascot is starting for the first time for Brian Kan Ping-chee, having left Stephen Leung a couple of months ago. Leung was none too happy with the loss of this gelding, stating: 'He was just coming right and I'm sure he would have been ready to go very close to winning next time.' Champion Mascot certainly looked well in himself when completing his work on Monday morning and is worth keeping safe in this second leg of the elusive Double Trio. Never Say Tired beat Raider's Luck last time over course and distance, with Raider's Luck looking to have no excuses at all but a faint heart. Their tussle came in a very weak event and they will find tonight's company in this fifth contest much harder to the extent they may struggle to run into the frame. Cruz also looks to have very solid chances on Moore's Amigo in the last and Kwacha in the third. Amigo can confirm course and distance form with Local Colour from last season on just five pounds worse terms for just over the three lengths he beat him. Amigo loves the equitrack and has gradually improved all season. Local Colour, in good form at the moment, remains a considerable quinella chance as he is racing over his best course and distance. Our Champion went very well in his final gallop, probably working as well as he's ever gone, so don't be put off by the fact that he's ridden by stable apprentice Stanley K. M. Chin rather than Basil Marcus. Our Champion is one of the smallest horses in training and champion trainer Ivan Allan probably just wanted to get some weight off his back and Chin does claim a very handy five pounds. Kwacha goes really well on the dirt and may be able to cope with the likes of Courageous, Gold Venture and stablemate, Jogador. He, like High Reward, looks just the kind of horse to benefit from Cruz control. The sixth is an interesting little dash round the 1,030-metre course with Dragon's Pal expected to surprise at reasonable odds. He was clearly wrong for a couple of months earlier in the season, but has thrived in his work going into this race and is ready to sprint well fresh. Allan's Horse Delight appears to be the main quinella chance with Dragon's Pal. Horse Delight needed the run when a creditable fourth to Pleasant Win last time out and is the type of free runner who should go well on the equitrack. Marcus is sure to make a bold bid to lead all the way. The fourth is a very good betting race with Money Fountain just preferred to Figure It Out. They look worth a solid quinella bet. Gerald Mosse, who has the ride on Money Fountain, can earlier initiate a double by winning on Star Of Marble in the opening event. This is at his mercy from barrier one. Star Of Marble's trainer, Wong Tang-ping, can then take the second with his improving Men's Pride.
