Welsh-born rider David Harrison has endured a lengthy drought after a bright start to his first Hong Kong stint but a very welcome winner could come his way in the sixth event at Sha Tin today.
Harrison partners Special Runner for trainer Lam Hung-fie and the three-year-old looks a solid each-way chance in a Class Five race over 1,400 metres that does not look particularly strong.
Special Runner is one of several Class Four horses involved here on the overlap system but he definitely has youth on his side as opposed to topweight Super Fellow who could be among the favourites to take the major prize.
Special Runner has had only four life-time starts and he finds himself in this moderate grade quite quickly.
While a cursory look at the form might suggest nothing special about this runner, it can be noted that, at his first run as a griffin, he did miss the start and ran on towards the end to be just over five lengths off Inventor.
Of much more significance was his first run this season where, in a similar 1,400-metre event for Class Four horses, he was last until the 300-metre mark and made good ground to be under four lengths from Running Cue at the line.
Special Runner has been apprentice-ridden at all his starts to date so the engagement of Harrison is not only a pointer to his chances but clearly enhances them.
