SILENCE rather than the recent mist and fog shrouded Sha Tin yesterday morning with a score of trainers off to Sydney for the Easter Sales. But English mentor David Oughton decided against the delights that Sydney may have to offer and it is not difficult to understand why he remained on duty here. He ran a very careful eye over two prime candidates for honours at today's Easter Saturday meeting as they went through their final work routine yesterday. Hussar looks certain to start a short-priced favourite for the Kukri Trophy and race jockey John Marshall slipped him along in a pleasing gallop timed in 54.8 seconds. The Danehill gelding seems to be on good terms with himself and is clearly the one to beat in the 1,200-metre showpiece although he is forced to concede plenty of weight. As a final tune-up there was certainly nothing wrong with this piece of work and Hussar looks ready to give a real account of himself. Oughton's other big chance today is Danish Heights in the Centurion Trophy with Greg Childs to ride as Marshall, on the other side of the fence as it were, takes out favourite Time Strong. Danish Heights is getting a lot of weight from Time Strong on their last outing and is in a position to turn the tables - if he is good enough. Childs sped him along in a quick burst timed in 24.3 which merely seemed to be topping off Danish Heights whose work since his last effort has been very impressive. Top apprentice Simon H. K. Yim is getting plenty of chances from championship-chasing trainer Wong Tang-ping and he gave Action Win a quick hit-out yesterday in preparation for the seventh event on today's card. Action Win is an improving young stayer who will definitely give a great sight in this 1,800-metre race for young Yim. He has generally been going well in his lead-up to this Class Five event and he could actually end up being just a bit better than this grade. He has not always been ridden to advantage in the past or had the services of top-line riders, so the engagement of Yim today is a definite bonus. Action Win has been freshened up for this race, having been tried over more extreme trips earlier this season. Real Perfect is a fairly recent recruit to the stable of Steven S. L. Leung and is entered for a 1,650-metre event on Wednesday on the all-weather surface. Real Perfect is going well and was responsible for a good, solid effort timed in 1:23.1 with a riding boy aboard yesterday. The last quarter was clocked in 24.4 and Real Perfect may not be that far away when it matters. In the same race on Wednesday, Bounty will be the medium of solid support and that is easy to understand. He has generally been working in good style and showed yesterday under Ricky C. K. Chung that he is primed for a bold showing. He scythed through his last quarter in 23.4 and looked completely at ease with the overall work clocked in 1:17.9. This was a top-notch piece of work and Bounty is ready. Link Treasure provided the first career winner for claimer Alex K. S. Yu recently and judging from yesterday's work has taken no harm from that outing. He continues along the right lines and a second win is more than possible. Winford was backed last time but was wide throughout, making it a difficult task for the horse. But he is another progressing favourably and should be winning soon. He moved crisply along in 1:24.5 (24.9) and is good enough to score in Class Five.
