Top trainer Ivan Allan will have a long tactical talk with stable jockey Douglas Whyte today, planning the downfall of a raging Hong Kong Derby favourite he could have bought himself.
Resfa will start one of the shortest-priced Derby favourites in recent history as he bids to win tomorrow's renewal of the $7 million Classic, but Allan, old and wise in the ways of the racing world, shrugs his shoulders when he reflects on champion trainer David Hayes' hot Derby hope.
'I could have had him, the offer was there. But I ultimately decided against buying him. We tried to come to an arrangement but it did not work out. Now, of course, I have to try and beat him.
'It certainly won't be easy - probably impossible - but I don't harbour regrets about it,' said Allan yesterday.
The former champion trainer starts Billion Win, Holy Grail and the Willy Kan-ridden Man Of Honour in tomorrow's glittering Sha Tin showdown.
'I will be having a long talk with Douglas [Whyte] about Billion Win. Even though he has drawn barrier one, it does not necessarily mean that he will lead.
'While Resfa does look unbeatable, it is also true that the Classic Trial was run in a slow time. There are little scraps of hope here and there and we must exploit whatever advantages we think we might have. Not that there are many,' said Allan.
