There were no great fireworks in the first meeting at Sha Tin, with virtually all nine races on the evening card producing solid but not spectacular winning times.
Sure, there were some fast bare times and proceedings certainly got off to a lively start with Splendid Timing living up to his name by setting a new Class Five, 1,200-metre record in the opening Shouson Hill Handicap. His time of one minute, 10.4 seconds shaved 0.4 seconds off the previous best for the grade set by Good Choice a couple of years ago.
However, as is generally the case, the principal reason for the slick raw times was the fast ground, which for once was accurately reflected by the official going report of 'good to firm'.
Throw in a 10-pound claim from useful apprentice Vincent Sit and you have a simple equation for a fast time.
In the event, Splendid Timing has been credited with a Topspeed rating of 44, which certainly rates one of the better time performances on the evening relative to class but is still not outstanding. He has a previous turf best of 46 (51 on dirt).
That said, the form obviously has a very genuine look to it. With Fortune Dancer basically running right up to his best in second, clocking a 34 time figure, and Moon Dancer (40) in third, it is a race that should produce a future winner or two.
