BOOM galloper Mr Vitality will make a belated reappearance in the Stewards' Cup on November 11 as his trainer Ivan Allan struggles to find races for him.
The unbeaten Australian import, successful in all four starts last season and the major domestic hope in the International events, had been pencilled in for the top division of tomorrow's Hong Kong University Alumni Association Handicap and/or the Sha Tin Trophy on October 7.
But Allan withdrew him from the contest after he was allocated a punitive 146 pounds. Patrick Biancone did likewise with his prolific Bumper Star who was given 145 pounds.
Allan said: 'Mr Vitality will go straight to the Stewards' Cup without a run. It is not ideal but there is no point running him under such crushing weights.' Asked if he would be able to get another run into Mr Vitality between the Stewards' Cup and the showpiece International events on December 10, Allan added: 'One race at a time. Let's worry about the Stewards' Cup first.' Mr Vitality, last season's champion sprinter but bred to stay further, will run in either the 1,400-metre International Bowl or the 1,800-metre International Cup.
The Stewards' Cup is a mile event run at level weights.
But what really concerns Allan and Biancone is the lack of suitable lead-up races to the International events for the territory's best horses.
