Trainer Geoff Lane broke a run of outs in the opening race at Happy Valley last night (right) after sticking with experience over mathematics on No Competitor. 'That's nice - it's been a month since I've had a winner so things have been a bit quiet, but he got the right ride from Basil Marcus and that was the difference,' Lane said. 'In his last couple of starts, I've had Way Leung riding the horse because I've wanted to make use of the seven pound claim.
'He's a speed horse who runs along and I thought he'd be suited with the weight off him. But last time, while I was watching the race, I felt the lad was finding him a bit too much of a handful and he even lost his reins at the 200m. So I decided right then and there that we'd switch to a senior rider tonight.'
Marcus rushed No Competitor from the gates and found his way to the inside rail and that was the end of the race. 'Basil just rides these horses so well. He was the right rider on the right horse,' Lane said. 'I've had a bit of a quiet time I guess because I had such a good season last year. That was the best season I have had as a trainer and now I'm paying the penalty because my horses are all up a little in the handicaps.'
Wong Tang-ping had Damien Oliver's renowned strength in a finish to thank when Lomond's Fay arrived to win with the last stride of race six. In the unaccustomed role of backmarker, Lomond's Fay revelled in the fast pace for the Australian rider. 'I could see quite early that they were going too quickly for him and that's why he got back so far,' Wong said. 'Especially from the wide barrier it was the right thing to do and I was not surprised that he ran home so strongly. He has been going quite well and just needed a bit of luck to win and Damien was able to give that to him.'
Trainer Derek Cruz was also talking about luck after Good Fit seemed to be the only runner to have some in the fifth race and scored for Steven King. 'Well, sometimes you can be very lucky,' he laughed. 'The second horse Cupid was badly blocked and probably should have won and there were others unlucky there, too. But he has been consistent and deserved a win.'
Alex Wong Yu-on's Telecom Chief was reluctant to go on to the track for champion jockey Douglas Whyte before the last race, but returned to the scene of his win two starts back with another powerful finish. 'No, he had no problems going on to the track - I think he just wanted to give the other horses a start,' Wong was laughing when the weighed-in sign went up.
