Ivan Allan's notoriety this week had mostly been achieved off the track but the training maestro took full advantage of yesterday's $3 million Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup to remind us of his real claim to fame.
Allan, of course, is Hong Kong's most famous big-race trainer and he was not about to waste the opportunity of an Electronic Unicorn-free Group race at Sha Tin to test the potential of progressive private purchase Ho Choi.
Although Allan claims Ho Choi is 'only 75 to 80 per cent right', the former English racer made short work of the Group Two, weight-for-age contest and had a comfortable 1.25-length advantage on the late closing Hong Kong Cup hero Precision (Douglas Whyte).
'I think this horse will be representing Hong Kong at the end of the year in the Hong Kong Mile,' said Allan, whose opinion should be worth something as the handler of the 2002 Hong Kong Mile winner Olympic Express.
'The horse had a minor setback during the week when he kicked out and knocked a leg, but it was too close to the race to be treated. Full credit to [assistant trainer] Danny Shum and all the staff, they did a great job to get him to the post.'
Allan's bullish review was echoed by jockey Weichong Marwing, who enjoyed an armchair ride on the four-year-old after beginning smartly from barrier three.
