CONCERT King will have to defy a massive 154 pounds if he is to win the St Andrew's Challenge Quaich down the straight 1,000 metres at Sha Tin next Saturday. Senior handicapper Martyn Stewart said last night: ''The Rules of Racing allow for a topweight of 154 pounds in Class One and Concert King looks like being given the maximum.'' Trainer Derek Cruz still plans to run the horse but he is by no means pleased with the weight. ''I'm very disappointed,'' he said. ''This doesn't seem to be the way to help our top horses prepare for the International events but I'm almost forced into running him. ''He's a horse who needs plenty of work - he thrives on it - and there is no way I can afford to leave him on the sidelines for a couple of months or more waiting for the next opportunity.'' Concert King has won two of his three starts this season, putting up the performance of the campaign when defying 144 pounds last time. He will be ridden by Mick Kinane for the first time in the St Andrew's Challenge Quaich following the split between Derek and Tony Cruz which shows no signs of abating. Meanwhile, high-flying Walter Swinburn is determined to make it a month to remember in Hongkong. The man who won the Epsom Derby on Shergar and Sharastani is bubbling with enthusiasm after his arrival late on Wednesday and spent yesterday hunting for rides on Sunday. ''I'm at the track first thing in the morning and I am hoping I'll be on a couple on Sunday. But I have no illusions, this is going to be much harder than it has ever been before. ''I have come a couple of days earlier so that I have a chance of riding on Sunday, but more importantly so that I can get to the track and on the 'phone and let people know I'm here,'' said Swinburn, a regular winter visitor to Hongkong until he took a break last season. ''I was in Barbados for three weeks and managed to ride a winner but it's just not got the buzz this place has,'' said Swinburn, who enjoyed another excellent season in England last year. ''I think it is going to be a very interesting month and I have obviously been lucky as there are a lot of meetings. That's the way it goes, because Ray Cochrane had his stint cut short by the virus but I'm coming in when there are meetings twice a week,'' he added. ''It won't be a holiday, not with the number of meetings I can get in. I am definitely hunting winners. This is a great stint because it gets me right into shape for the coming season in England.'' Solicitors engaged by former amateur jockey Johnny Cruz have placed an advertisement in leading newspapers seeking information on the source of rumours linking the former bank official to bookmakers or dealings in bookmaking activities. It is stated that all information would be regarded as strictly confidential and a PO Box number is given in the advertisement. Says Cruz: ''I don't know what will come out of it, but I am doing my level best to remove these slurs from my name. Anything we receive will be thoroughly checked out but it's very definite that it will all be done in the strictest confidence.''
