DERBY pointers galore at yesterday's Sha Tin work session followed by five barrier trials on the Happy Valley grass. From a ratings point of view, the Derby winner is likely to come from Ivan Allan's exciting pair of Mr Vitality and his Belmont Stakes third, Citadeed, and John Moore's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Adjareli.
All three were on show yesterday morning with Mr Vitality having far too much zip for Privilege in their work on the Sha Tin grass; Citadeed putting in a most promising trial when never off the bridle in the final heat at the Valley and Adjareli working all over his top Class One stablemate Survey King on the Sha Tin dirt.
Allan and owner and Jockey Club Steward Alan Li were there to watch Citadeed every step of the way after which they retired to the weighing-room to discuss their options. They said: 'He's coming along well, but we will only run him in the Derby if he comes to himself in time. 'We won't be rushing him. We don't believe in rushing a horse for any race. 'If he tells us he's ready then all well and good, but a lot depends how he comes out of this trial, how he eats up and how he is in the next day or two.
'If he's to run in the Derby we would be looking for a race for him over 1,200 metres or 1,400 metres, but he won't start in the Classic Trial. 'That's a mile and it would flatten him for the Derby.' As for Mr Vitality, Allan added: 'I was really happy with his work and he is definite starter in the Classic Trial. 'He's coming back well from the International Cup and while he's not there yet, he is making good progress and is not too far away.' Privilege, by the way, was pushed to keep tabs with Mr Vitality, but he is a real trier and battled on to finish the work within half a length and has come out of his International Vase exertions in fine shape.
Adjareli has been improved out of all recognition for just one barrier trial. Yesterday, he went to the line full of running in a solid hitout with Survey King after which Moore revealed his intention of trialling him again on Friday morning and then starting him in the Classic Trial.
Moore said: 'He will take on whatever is in his trial on Friday and then go for the Classic Trial. 'He may well sneak into a place in the Classic Trial on class alone, but he's still really a fair bit above himself as he's such a good doer. 'Whatever we ask of him in the morning he just comes back and licks the bowl dry. 'But he's coming along all the time and has been vastly improved for that one trial and I'm very happy with the way he's going.' In the trials yesterday, Geoff Lane's Warm Winter was never off the bridle in the first heat and can be marked down as an almost certain future winner. Top English jockey, Darryll Holland rode Warm Winter and he was also on Fortune Basin who went really well for him in winning Citadeed's trial.