''It barely lasted 24 hours. He ate up well immediately and his blood count was fine when I sent a sample for testing.'' Cruz, sharing the lead in the trainer standings with Patrick Biancone and John Moore during a brilliant second season with a licence, went on: ''I feel I've got to know this horse like the back of my hand and am very confident of having him in top shape for the Bowl.

''This is the race which matters to me above everything else. I want to win it for myself and the connections as well as for Hongkong racing.'' There was also good news yesterday of Brian Kan Ping-chee's top English import Gold Yue Yee.

While it emerged that the young three-year-old had fractured a splint bone when unplaced behind Wind Dancer on Saturday, the vets are confident that the injury will not wreck his racing career.

Vet Peter Schiff said yesterday: ''While we can't really tell about the suspensory ligament until the swelling goes down, the chances are very low of Gold Yue Yee's racing career being adversely affected.'' Gold Yue Yee was favourite in his race at the weekend but dropped out tamely with 150 metres to go and finished lame. Meanwhile Lester Piggott will not grace tomorrow's Happy Valley card for the simple reason that he cannot get a mount.

His absence has nothing to do with the cut he sustained to his left eye when Beat Them Up threw his head back on the way out for the final event at Sha Tin on Saturday afternoon.

Piggott said yesterday: ''I feel fine. The eye is all right. I'm not riding on Wednesday as I didn't get asked to. But I'm looking forward to Saturday's card.'' See Pages 24 and 25