O'Sullivan sounds end-of-term warning with stunning double

NEW Zealand champion Lance O'Sullivan produced a 300-1 winning double at Sha Tin yesterday but saw a treble disappear when he looked to have the seventh race on the programme sewn up.

Punters were stunned when Profit Taker (30-1) made all down the straight, 1,000-metre course and O'Sullivan followed up with a solid win on 10-1 chance Jay Ee Eight, for trainer Alex Wong Yu-on.

Neither horse had attracted punters but there was good support for Trust Myself in the penultimate event and he went a length clear with 100 metres to go - only to be amazingly run down by favourite Drifting Away under Eric Legrix who had looked beaten when O'Sullivan surged through on the rails.

The popular Kiwi has agreed terms to ride for Lawrie Fownes next season and his sterling efforts on his two winners yesterday - and on Trust Myself - suggest afresh that he will fit neatly into the local racing scene.

Alex Wong Siu-tan prepares Profit Taker and there were no takers for the sprinter who has failed on numerous occasions down the straight course.

There was big support for Quite Easy (7-2 favourite) with Tony Cruz taking over from out-of-action Alan Munro. Also solidly in the market was Irish newcomer Dick Ching (5-1), prepared to the minute for the race by local trainer Peter Ng Bik-kuen.

But it was Profit Taker, drawn against the rails, who prevailed with O'Sullivan riding it out desperately to the line - but handily holding off Dick Ching by a length.