Champion jockey Basil Marcus produced a perfectly timed double at Sha Tin last night to warn off claimants to his prized crown.
It was a re-arranged mixed meeting following the intervention of Typhoon Leo but the script stayed much the same with Marcus producing textbook rides on Honest Dragon (9-2) and Good News (4-1).
His Good News win was exactly that for retaining trainer David Hayes, who may end up having to fight harder to retain his title than Marcus. The South African is slowly but surely inching well clear of Eric Saint-Martin, who landed a winner, winless Douglas Whyte and Robbie Fradd - an outside chance for the title - who took the opener.
Hayes chalked up a double of his own in the nightcap when topweight Hunting Lad (5-1) was excellently handled by maximum claimer Howard Y.T. Cheng to burst through in the last 20 metres and snatch victory from Score (30-1) in the Class One, 1,800-metre event and land a good stable plunge.
Honest Dragon, a younger horse on the way up, showed afresh his liking for the dirt with a more comprehensive victory than the one-length margin over fast-finishing High Powered (35-1) might suggest as he was never in the slightest danger of defeat.
Good News was an excellent ride as Marcus virtually made all.
