Flowers Treasure still blooms for Ping
Midweek racing returns to the dirt next Wednesday night and in looking for winners it is wise to pay attention to those who have raced well on the surface in the past.
And one who fits right into that category is impressive last-start winner Flowers Treasure.
The Wong Tang-ping-trained gelding had been out of form for a while before scoring last time on the all-weather, but he has blossomed this season and worked stylishly yesterday with stablemate Sunrisespectacular.
Sent out over 800 metres, Flowers Treasure led early and although they finished together there was plenty of horse under Douglas Whyte as they concluded the gallop.
The handicapper did not miss Flowers Treasure with a 14-pound penalty for the win but the big American-bred had dropped well down the ratings and looks more than capable of mixing it in Class Two.
Sunrisespectacular should also be noted as the promising youngster has needed racing to reach peak fitness and he doesn't look too far off his best - next time out could see him fulfil some of the potential he showed as a griffin last term.
It hasn't been a great start to the season for local rider Danny Lee but regular ride Over The Blues continues to work strongly.
And the all-weather specialist put in his second good piece of work this week with Mr Belief as they put a solid 1,200 metres behind them in one minute and 23.9 seconds.
It wasn't the time so much as the manner he went about his work that suggested Over The Blues may be hard to beat in a Class Four event over 1,800 metres on Wednesday night.
While next week's Stewards' Cup will not be an easy race to win with the cream of the region's gallopers engaged, David Oughton's Che Sara Sara is not one to be underrated.
The Derby winner has had no luck at his past two starts but looked very fit working over 1,200 metres yesterday with the last 800 metres seeing the tempo increased and that section being covered in 48.5 seconds.
Oughton has done a great job to bring Che Sara Sara back to top form and his patience could easily be rewarded with a win in the Stewards' Cup, the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Oughton's Emphasis is also looking ready to improve and there was a lot to like about his work with the in-form Braveheart.
They picked up from the 800-metre marker and finished the gallop without a lot between them. But Emphasis did it keenly and a step up to middle distance is all he is looking for - he has dropped to a competitive mark.
SHA TIN DIRT TRIALS First trial _ 1,150m: 1, SOLID GOLD (K. W. Lee); 2, Star Of Marble (C. W. Mok); 3, Jewellery Star (K. M. So). Others (in finishing order): Michael's Choice, Musical Insight, Veloce, Active Speed, Powernamic. Time: 1:11.2 (25.2). Distances: length, 1.25 lengths. Winner trained by Wong Siu-tan.
Second trial _ 1,150m: 1, PERFECT COMBO (K. M. So); 2, Universal Winner (W. Woods); 3, Primo (D. Whyte). Others: Rich In Faith, Indy's Gem, Great Chivalry, Always Fun, Time Honour, Lomond's Fay. Time: 1:12.5 (26.1). Distances: length, 1 length. Winner trained by Ng Bik-kuen.
