Night Hunter lights way for Leung camp

Was that a chink of light at trackwork yesterday morning, glimmering at the end of what has so far this season been a long and dark tunnel for local trainer Andy Leung Ting-wah?

Leung has only six winners on the board at a strike rate of just four per cent. But he's never been a fast starter, quite the reverse, and usually hits his straps after Christmas when his youngsters come on stream - many of whom have been specially selected in Australia.

It was a very similar situation a few years ago. The stable could hardly put a foot right, retained rider Richard Hughes returned to England with medical problems, and Leung teamed up with Brett 'Double' Doyle. In the second part of the season the yard was in as good form as it had been in bad and maybe, just maybe, history will repeat itself.

Yesterday Leung sent out the first two home in the morning's only barrier trial. His promising staying sort, Night Hunter, had a neck to spare over another staying type in Dragon Fortune in a 1,150-metre heat on the Sha Tin dirt.

Night Hunter ran a cracking third to Bon Bon and Race To Honour over 1,800 metres on the dirt first time out. That was a big ask for a three-year-old who had never raced before and may account for the fact he ran unplaced next time. It could have flattened him as he is a very sparely made individual and probably needs time between his races.

Since running unplaced, the bounce appears to be back in his step at trackwork. He caught the eye earlier this week and yesterday he came through from mid-division to win with definite staying promise.