Dashing English rider Darryll 'The Dazzler' Holland lit up Happy Valley once again last night when booting home a 36-1 double. Holland scored on Way Ahead for retaining trainer Geoff Lane in a classy fourth event which featured some of the best milers in training before completing his double on Top Performance for Wong Tang-ping in the sixth. The brace of winners took Holland to 21 winners for the season and, in a statistical quirk, he's also ridden 21 seconds and 21 thirds. 'You could say I've come of age,' joked Holland after racing. The former British champion apprentice thrives on winners and his exquisite balance and hands make him one of the most exciting young jockeys to be found anywhere - but especially round the tight Valley bends which lend themselves to his style of riding.
'I've always had a bit of luck here and really enjoy riding the course,' Holland added. 'Mind you it does help when you're on horses like Way Ahead and Top Performance. Way Ahead just loves the Valley. 'He handles the track so well and has that high cruising speed which is so helpful here. Top Performance's was a gutsy win as he was blocked for a run in the closing stages.' Way Ahead won by 21/2 lengths from the improving Citadeed who might well have given him much more to do but for having no luck at the start.
Citadeed had improved significantly in his work going into last night's race and will be very hard to beat when racing next in the Centurion Trophy over a mile at Sha Tin on April 6. He will have to clash there with Adjareli but on the Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up's unplaced effort behind Way Ahead last night, he shouldn't have too much to fear. Ping was completing a double of his own with Top Performance as he opened the night's meeting by landing a massive gamble on his Class Six performer, Smart Dragon.
The five-year-old may have been rated just four in the territory's bottom grade but that didn't stop those in the know steaming into him and forcing him down from 11-1 to 5.8-1 in the last 10 minutes of betting. The double moved Ping to 19 winners and left him equal top local trainer with Brian Kan Ping-chee and Tony P.H. Chan. The last-named was on the mark with Millions Joy in the third event where his victory was aided by Aubade shying away from him and into Omnipotence and the favourite, Red Wine.
Alex Wong Yu-on pulled off the shock of the campaign to date when Super Happy took the final event under the useful seven-pound claimer James Chan at the extraordinary odds of 159-1.
Nor was there any fluke about the win. Favourite Sensible Choice had every chance from the top of the straight but Super Happy stuck on well to score by 11/2 lengths from Financial Star with Sensible Choice a short head back in third. There are a heap of useful apprentices at the moment and Alex Yu had his claim cut from 10 to seven pounds after he rallied Better Choice to take the fifth event from Zakarad.
