Astute local trainer Wong Tang-ping could have been excused a knowing grin after the fast-finishing effort of his Crowning Vigors in the Class Three dirt test won by hat-trick hero Craig's Pride (above).
The typically slow-maturing son of boom sire Zabeel had missed a stack of work going into his first attempt on the brown stuff and the way he steamed to the line suggests he could be adding to his good record of three wins from 13 starts before season's end.
Although eighth of 11, some seven lengths from the winner, Crowning Vigors was finishing better than anything else and was clearly in need of the outing. He should come on in leaps and bounds and repay Ping's patience in kind.
Claimer Eric K. W. Lee Lee was also astride Ping's three-year-old Premier Treasure, who was noted rattling home into fourth behind impressive winner Dollars And Sense in the Class Three 1,400-metre 10th event. A smart griffin victor over the highly regarded Fish King two starts ago, Premier Treasure proved he has what it takes to mix it under handicap conditions when working home powerfully from a long way back.
