INTERNATIONAL Cup-winning jockey Greg Childs has made a tremendous start to his first full-time stint in the territory, impressing many good judges with his cool, tactically astute riding. He has banged in three winners from just four meetings and looks to have a few more winners in the locker if yesterday's four trials on the Sha Tin all-weather are anything to go by. The New Zealander, retained by Neville Begg but popular with many outside trainers, was a classy winner of the second heat on his stable's Auto-Matching, as well as running a fine second on Begg's Deerfield and a promising third on his Palette Star. Auto-Matching appears to have settled down and has developed into a really attractive, athletic type. He will also suit Childs style of riding as he is best held up for a late run and Childs is a master of the late surge.
Yesterday, Auto-Matching dominated the second heat along with the Lawrie Fownes-trained Classic Boy who was fitted with pacifiers (or possibly blinkers, it is hard to tell exactly from the stands) and did not hang out anywhere near as badly as he has done in the past. Childs tracked Classic Boy into the straight and while he only won by a head on Auto-Matching there looked to be a bit more there if required. The trial will also bring on Auto-Matching as Begg is not hard on them in their work. Fownes, ever the professional, seems to have worked the oracle on Classic Boy who was almost certainly fitted with a different bit to stop him hanging. On looks, Classic Boy would have to win a race. Source Of Life, now with Chris Cheung, ran on very strongly for third and is one to note in Class Five while Patrick Biancone's Long Run showed tremendous early speed and should also be winning races this season.
The very smart Deerfield looked as good as ever when making silky smooth headway to finish two lengths second to the free-running Plentiful Harvest in the opening batch. It may be unwise to read too much into Plentiful Harvest's trial win as he is the headstrong type to go well in trials. Given his finely tuned mental state, if you do want to back him the best time is probably in the first couple of runs. Palette Star ran home from a long way back for third in the third behind the promising unraced griffin from last season, Concert Fortune, who joined Tony P. H. Chan from Begg during the summer. Tony Cruz was hard at work chasing good rides during the trial session. Notably, he has jumped on David Oughton's useful sprinter, Hussar, who will be improved significantly for his solid third to Gotcha in the final heat.
Hussar showed brilliant speed before knocking up in the final 100 metres and is such a big horse that he can only derive considerable benefit from the blowout. First trial 1, PLENTIFUL HARVEST (D. Lee); 2, Deerfield (G. Childs); 3, American Way (C. F. Chan). Others (in finishing order): Top News, Tactics, Well Done, Swift, Oriental Power, All Smart Wins, Cricket Lord, South China's King, Stonelion Treasure. Time: 1.08.5 (23.8). Distances: 2 lengths, Neck. Winner trained by Cheung Ting-pong.
Second trial 1, AUTO-MATCHING (G. Childs); 2, Classic Boy (L. O'Sullivan); 3,Souce Of Life (C. F. Chan). Others: Long Run, Endurance, Happy Occasions, Drifting Away, Winner St Paul's, Rambo, Lucky Express, Gaylord. Time: 1.08.9 (24.3). Distance: Head, 1 length. Winner trained by Neville Begg.
Third trial 1, CONCERT FORTUNE (L O' Sullivan); 2, My Good Boy (E. Legrix); 3, Palette Star (G. Childs). Others: Fairview Star, Omnipotence, Wishing Well, Easy Beat, Fortissimo, Barchetta, Special Mission, Gallant Middy. Time: 1.10.2 (24.1). Distances: Neck, 3 lengths. Winner trained by Chan Pak-hung Fourth trial 1, GOTCHA (K. S. Yu); 2, Super Fit (L. O'Sullivan); 3, Hussar (A. S. Cruz). Others (in finishing order): Optic Empire, Tiger's Spirit, Snip Pour Roi, Golden Emperor, N014, Key Import, Smiling, Satisfaction. Time: 1.08.9 (24.4). Distances: 1 length, 1/2 length. Winner trained by Stephen Leung Sik-lun.
