A stunning delayed debut from Lion's Share (5-2 favourite) brightened a drab Sha Tin all-weather card last night and gave Douglas Whyte another important winner in his quest for the championship.
There were audible gasps from the Sha Tin faithful when the Tony Cruz-trained International Sales Griffin unleashed a devastating winning run from about 300 metres out in the fifth event.
Those taking the shortish odds on the four-year-old had every reason to be deeply concerned at the 600-metre mark when Whyte was worse than midfield and close to the inside rail.
The South African ace edged Lion's Share wide and swung for home, standing the tearaway leader, Monopoly Senior (7-1), up about 12 lengths. In the short run-in on the dirt, it is a lot of ground to make up, but Lion's Share simply flew over the surface to reel in Monopoly Senior and Splendid Timing (35-1) to win going away by a length and a quarter over the 1,150-metre dash.
It was a dramatic performance and Cruz clearly has plenty to work with, although the Leo Castelli gelding has temperament problems.
But he has plenty of raw ability and Cruz looks sure to pick up good races with this one.
Whyte said: 'There was never any question of us getting to the front. He is not that type anyway and there was too much speed in this race. To that extent, it was going to be a worry but he had trialled very well and Tony had him really right for the race.' The Whyte and Marcus title battle is likely to be the consuming topic between now and the end of the season.