Saint-Martin accepts the Star mount in rich Chairman's Prize

French star Eric Saint-Martin steps into the gap created by the suspension of compatriot Eric Legrix to ride brilliant Helene Star in the Chairman's Prize at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Helene Star starts for the first time since finishing a gutsy second over 1,400 metres to Pine Fame in the L'Or de Martell Cup at Sha Tin on March 30. Trainer Patrick Biancone, who locks horns with arch-rival Ivan Allan in the Chairman's Prize, has freshened up Helene Star and the New Zealand import looks arguably the only half-threat to Mr Vitality. As the race is at setweights, the advantage lies totally with the Allan-trained champion Mr Vitality who is rated at 135. Helene Star is second highest-rated in the lineup at 129.

Saint-Martin said: 'It's a good ride and I am very pleased to be taking it. I had another couple of offers but this has to be the best one. 'Of course, Mr Vitality would be hard to beat, in fact you could say almost impossible but, even so, things can happen and anyway something has to run second.

'And in a race like the Chairman's Prize, the stakemoney is very good.' Not looking quite so good is the lineup for the important Happy Valley Vase, a race restricted to two-year-olds at the city track next Wednesday.

When entries closed yesterday there were nine down to contest the 1,200-metre event and the Jockey Club extended the deadline until 9 am today. 'I don't think we're desperately disappointed about it,' senior handicapper Martyn Stewart said. 'We have to re-open anyway if we have less than 10 entries and I think this was probably expected. As long as seven or eight of them stand their ground it will be a good race.' It is likely some trainers have been scared away by the presence of Wylie Wong Wai-lit's impressive Danzighill who won very impressively at the Valley last week. 'On the face of it from the entries we have received, he would be starting the odds-on favourite,' Stewart added.

Danzighill is a purchase from the Select Sale last December and would certainly strike a real blow for those horses if he captured the valuable Vase.