Speedy Champion looks a worthwhile wager on a desperately tricky card at Happy Valley this afternoon.
The Australian-bred gelding represents the David Hayes-Basil Marcus trainer and jockey combination which has done so well with youngsters in these Class Four contests.
And this afternoon's opening event is no more than a common-or-garden Class Four affair.
Speedy Champion is starting at the Valley for the first time and he has drawn the coffin box - gate 11.
But neither is insurmountable and these two factors might just be over-compensated for by punters who then allow him to start at a win and place price. Then he would be an attractive wager as his work this time in suggests he's much improved on his griffin days and is a cut above Class Four.
He's handled most of the youngsters that Hayes has asked him to gallop with and it could be that the drop back to the Valley's tough 1,200 metres suits him more than the 1,400 metres or the mile that he tackled on his two griffin outings last season.
He acquitted himself with credit on each start and now looks a better horse. On debut he was caught close home by Wong Tang-ping's Extraordinary over Sha Tin's 1,400 metres and then he had some useful types ahead of him in the shape of Typhoon, Winning Boy and High Spirits when fourth over a mile, also at the New Territories venue.