Cruz pair burn up Sha Tin trials track
In teeth-chattering weather at Sha Tin yesterday morning, trainer Derek Cruz produced two forward-looking youngsters likely to warm a few punters' hearts in the coming weeks.
Cruz took the two griffin trials down the straight 1,000-metre grass course with Derek's Choice and the as yet unnamed V141.
Happily, Derek's Choice looked very much the part in taking the first trial as the trainer will clearly be hoping that the youngster does go on to win a couple of races. A compliment from the owners? Let's hope so.
Derek's Choice was fourth on settling in the seven-runner dash but made up ground very smoothly under Roger K. H. Yu to be sitting pretty about 300 metres out.
Derek's Choice, with Yu sitting quietly as one would expect, took it up very readily and went to the line looking like a young horse who not only enjoyed the morning outing but also had the requisite ability to be a major threat in early races.
Optic Chief finished second and also has definite prospects along with eased-out Born Smart, also trained by Cruz and ridden by Robbie Fradd.
There was a yawning gap of at least 10 lengths back to fourth-placed Good Job, so the odds are in favour of the leading trio being more than useful in the early races.
French visitor Dominique Boeuf was aboard V141 who was shuffled back in some early scrimmaging among the youngsters, who were getting used to jumping out of stalls and being involved.
That left V141 in fifth position but he came through the centre well and was not at all pushed along by Boeuf as he went readily and easily to the line to score from stablemate Affaire D'Amour, who was partnered by Fradd.
Prospero, with Douglas Whyte up, finished third in this trial and trainer Alex Wong Yu-on will have something to work with in time.
It was a distinctly quiet, pre-Christmas morning with several trainers away from Hong Kong on buying missions to New Zealand and South Africa.
Lawrie Fownes was not on hand to see Class One performer En Rapport take the first barrier trial of the session in extremely good style.
En Rapport was last at the turn as the speedy Wind Catcher led them into the straight only to compound halfway down it.
Claimer Henry K. C. Tsang shook up En Rapport but he was probably surprised at just how quickly and readily the horse responded. En Rapport was on top of them in strides and won easily, going away at the line from China Red - a fair trial - and Rare, slow to being, who came home quite strongly.
The other trial was a moderate affair with Skystone winning narrowly from Flags Up and New Pegasus II.
RESULTS First trial _ 1,050m (dirt): 1, EN RAPPORT (K. C. Tsang); 2, China Red (B. Doyle); 3, Rare (M. W. Leung). Others (in finishing order): Aislo, Yoyo Express, Wind Catcher, Silent Partner, So Great, The Megaton, Invincible General. Time: 1:03.7 (25.3). Distances: 1 length, short-head. Winner trained by Lawrie Fownes.
Second trial _ 1,050m (dirt): 1, SKYSTONE (Y. T. Cheng); 2, Flags Up (M. W. Leung); 3, New Pegasus II (K. C. Tsang). Others: Increase Speed, Comfort, Gems, Pakistan Hero, Sky Coast, Happy Lad, Plaything Hours. Time: 1:03.0 (24.4). Distances: head, short-head. Winner trained by Geoff Lane.
Third trial _ 1,000m (turf): 1, DEREK'S CHOICE (K. H. Yu); 2, Optic Chief (C. T. Cheng); 3, Born Smart (R. Fradd). Others: Good Job, Winning Star, Eagle Ray, Meridian Star. Time: 1:00.9 (23.9). Distances: .75 length, 1.5 lengths. Winner trained by Derek Cruz.
Fourth trial _ 1,000m (turf): 1, SUPER FORCE (D. Boeuf); 2, Affaire D'Amour (R. Fradd); 3, Prospero (D. Whyte). Others: V167, Eternal Start, V170, Intervene. Time: 1:01.8 (24.7). Distances: .75 length, .5 length. Winner trained by Derek Cruz.
