Supreme performance sees Kan's winning run continue

Former champion trainer Brian Kan Ping-chee's great run continued at Happy Valley last night with a winning double initiated by staying star Winning Supreme, who is heading places in a hurry.

Kan wrapped up the double in the nightcap when consistent sprinter Optic General (9-1) won the Class Two scamper under Jimmy K.H. Ting, who was completing a double of his own.

Kan has zoomed up the trainers' table in recent weeks, bringing back memories of the days when he dominated here with four titles to show for it.

Stable jockey Felix Coetzee overcame considerable difficulties to win the Class Two, 1,800-metre third event on Winning Supreme (9-2 favourite), who was a cut above this field.

Kan said: 'We knew the only problem could be Happy Valley because he ran poorly here before. But he had been working so well I wanted him to run here. His next start will be at Sha Tin.' It took the wiles of Coetzee to get him going because Winning Supreme did not look at all happy in the run. When he saw daylight down the outside in the final stages it was a different story, and he powered through to run down Inventor (8-1) by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Optic General packed too much speed and determination in the final event and Ting, regular rider for the Optic horses, got him safely home by a length and a half from reclassified griffin Best Of The Best (9-2), who ran a fine race in his first crack at open company.