Talented apprentice Stanley Chin is set to make a whizz-bang start with his new mentor, John Moore. The former multiple champion trainer approached Ivan Allan about Chin's availability last season and Allan reluctantly let him go. 'I did what was right for Stanley,' Allan explained. 'He's a good kid and a good rider and John [Moore] could offer him more opportunities as he doesn't have an experienced apprentice or a stable rider while I have Basil [Marcus] and a seven-pound claimer. John also promised he would give Stanley plenty of rides and still let me use him.' Yesterday's eight grass trials down the straight 1,000-metre chute at Sha Tin yesterday confirmed that Moore is set to avail himself of Chin's three-pound claim.
Chin won the second trial on Moore's first-up specialist Flirting Dancer, bringing him from off the pace to hold the headstrong Shinnecock Hills by a neck. By the end of last season, Flirting Dancer looked a jaded and disinterested character. The close season break has allowed Moore to rekindle Flirting Dancer's enthusiasm and, with his rating back to the 84 from which he won first-time out 12 months ago, he could soon take Chin into the winner's enclosure. Patrick Biancone's Mountain Glow, an unraced griffin from last season, showed definite hope behind Flirting Dancer but David Hayes' Fay Fay went to the line as if troubled by the injury which truncated last season's campaign. Chin also caught the eye in the first heat when keeping Moore's Millennium Reigns under a tight hold behind David Hill's all-the-way winner, Debonair.
Millennium Reigns is another who runs well fresh and Chin will lack nothing in confidence when the tapes go up a week on Sunday after riding two winners in England during the summer. Chin was based with the top northern trainer Mark Johnston who said: 'We were all extremely impressed by his riding and his attitude. 'He was great to have in the yard and can he ride. He is welcome back in my stable at any time.'
