Trainer Derek Cruz (right) was unable to gain a career-first four wins at Happy Valley last night but was delighted to settle for a treble. 'I have had three winners many times before, never four,' he said after Bobo Duck (Robbie Fradd) followed his earlier successes with Heavenly Wind (Steven King) and Quick Step (Simon Yim).
At that point Cruz still had high hopes his final runner, Derek's Choice, could make it four but it was not to be. 'You have to take your time and the horses gradually come right,' Cruz said. 'All horses find their races in Hong Kong so it is a matter of being patient.'
The big, gross Bobo Duck was backing up from his win seven days ago and Cruz said the hard racing was having a good effect on him but Heavenly Wind is more fragile, according to the trainer.
'He only really has three legs so the straight race last time at Sha Tin is not really his go,' Cruz said.
'Tonight he had the rail and a turn to run around and that suits him much better. Steven gave him a nice ride.' It was a late present for King, who celebrated his birthday on Monday.
As Francis Lui Kin-wai had done a few meetings prior with his treble, Cruz had three different riders on his winners last night. 'They are all good riders in Hong Kong,' he explained. 'Put them on the right horse at the right time and they will all win.'
