FIRST-SEASON trainer Peter Ho landed that all-important first winner when Basketball Leader (16-1) produced an upset in the sixth event on Ladies' Day.
Ho had recently taken over the training of the disappointing galloper - 28 starts for no wins was how the record read before the Class Four event - from Brian Kan Ping-chee so it was very much a noteworthy effort from the young trainer.
Basketball Leader has been tried over a variety of trips at both courses and his maiden status before yesterday was not down to ill-luck. It has long been said there is a race for most Hong Kong horses and Basketball Leader's turn duly came here.
Few will begrudge Ho his victory, although Kan, training topweight Saint Tak (6-1), might be cursing his luck. The four-year-old again blew the start and lost a number of lengths so his close-up third place was meritorious.
Had he jumped with them, who knows? There was a major plunge on the Ivan Allan-trained City Warrior, backed in from over 9-1 to start at 5-1. The Citidancer three-year-old may also have been a trifle unlucky.
Basil Marcus was squeezed for room at the top of the straight and City Warrior is a big-striding type who needs crucial time to really get wound up. He came home well but the chance had gone.
