IN-FORM local handler Alex Wong Siu-tan once more underlined his mastery in the staying events as his boom galloper Supreme Universe completed a double for the long-serving trainer in the final event at last night's incident-packed Happy Valley meeting. Wong had earlier scored with Fighting Strike in the second race and has now sent out 10 winners this season. With the promise of a number of new horses for next term, he had plenty to smile about as he left the track. 'Supreme Universe is a progressive type and I must say that Jackie [Tse] rode him perfectly tonight. 'It's a pleasure to train a nice young stayer like this horse and I'd like to think I could find another distance event for him.
'Tonight was a bit of a test as it represented a pretty big jump in class but he handled it well.' The David Oughton-trained Legitimate ran on strongly for second behind Supreme Universe. He hit the line really hard and is going to be better off back at the bigger Sha Tin track where he will appreciate the longer straight. Fighting Strike used to be a specialist round the old 1,235-metre sprints at the Valley and last night he showed his liking for the new 1,200-metre trip when holding the Bruce Hutchison-trained Heading To Win in a ding-dong finish to the second. 'He's been racing consistently all season and does like it round here,' confirmed Wong who, with the likes of Supreme Goliath and Turf Star to add to Supreme Universe, is building up a team of some very useful and progressive youngsters that will stand him in good stead for the next season or two.
Basil Marcus, successful on Fighting Strike, then suffered a potentially dangerous fall when Striking Distance stumbled and came down in the fourth event won so easily by All Smiles. All Smiles was continuing champion trainer John Moore's burst of form and was also completing a double for ace French jockey Thierry Jarnet at his very first meeting back since dislocating his shoulder in a fall at Sha Tin the weekend before last.
Striking Distance was badly kicked by Brilliant Forever, who narrowly missed Marcus and apprentice Sherie Kong, herself just back from a fall, did superbly to stay on board Brilliant Forever. Marcus is nothing if not tough and he bounced back to score on David Hill's Fat City in the very next race to complete a double of his own. He's now on 34 winners and is racing away to his fourth title. A considerable achievement. Rambo Tse was another jockey to bounce back from a fall. He went over the top on Classic Boy, who was back peddling at the time, in the third event won by Patrick Biancone's Scada at the juicy but not unsupported odds of 28-1.
Rambo is not Rambo for nothing. He was stretchered off but was straight back out for Colourful World in the next. Scada's victory means that winning apprentice, Simon 'Hong Hong' Yim, needs just five more winners to graduate to the senior ranks. He's a shining example to the other claimers. Hutchison, out of luck with Heading To Win, continued his brilliant season when the Richard Quinn-ridden Good Assistant swooped late on his rivals to take the Class Five sixth event from Jonka and Prominence who stood out as the paddock pick. He only has 25 horses in work yet has conjured 11 winners from them with more to come.
His Onaroll had earlier run a solid third in the opener which was won so well by the David Hayes-trained newcomer, Good Fortune, who was giving Jarnet his winning return. Good Fortune is a lovely type and will be winning many more races and of a much higher standard than last night's Class Four 1,000-metre dash.
