Shaxi Fortune looks a class above his rivals and a quality banker in Sha Tin's eighth event which closes Sunday's Triple Trio.
And it's worth having a go at the world's best bet as there is a $7.1 million jackpot carried forward.
One of the soundest pieces of advice is to make sure the studying is done for the right races. That may seem a bit facile but, due to the welcome addition to the programme of Fairy King Prawn's assault on the Yasuda Kinen, the TT will comprise races four, six and eight and not the usual three, four and six. Likewise the Double Trio is, for this weekend only, on races six and seven and not on races four and five.
Shaxi Fortune is blinkered for the first time for his crack at an ordinary Classes One and Two event over a mile. He's the fourth topweight and there are question marks over those above him. Benji is badly out of form; Cupid seems to need farther than a mile and maybe either a wet track or the dirt and Hornet got away with one at the Valley on what was a very biased wet track where it suited his front-running style.
Shaxi Fortune's overall form, culminating with a fine effort behind Helene Express in top-class company last time where he seemingly had no chance at the weights, is far superior to that of his rivals.
Meridian Star is clearly improving in form and very game. He's a top tierce chance as is Lomond's Fay who bounced back to form with a good dirt second to Citizen Kane last time.
Treasure Island was unlucky last time as he lost a lot of ground at the start when trying to anticipate the jump and mis-timing things.
