The new team in town - trainer John Moore and brilliant young jockey Christophe Soumillon - combined for a winner at the international meeting on the weekend and can keep the ball rolling with promising Best Gift as their joint venture formally begins at Happy Valley tonight.
It's back to business as usual as racing returns from the stars to the grass roots, but winners are winners and Soumillon's magic can coax the best from Best Gift in the last event tonight on a card where he and his retaining trainer Moore will combine three times with three winning chances.
Lightly raced in New Zealand with some worthwhile form before coming here, Best Gift has done well under Moore's guidance this season, running cracking races at both starts.
He flashed home from the rear over 1,000 metres at Happy Valley on debut, then showed very strong finishing speed at Sha Tin last start when he came from the tail for a narrow second to Being Famous over 1,400 metres.
He has been his own worst enemy so far, missing the start in both his races as well as in trials and the bad manners cost him a win last time out, but Moore will find the key to fixing that.
Stepping up to a longer trip of 1,800 metres certainly looks suitable and since he had wet track form in New Zealand, Best Gift should be suited by the Happy Valley surface.
