WONDERFUL TIME looks set to go well at reasonable odds in the eighth event on this afternoon's exciting Remy XO Cup programme at Sha Tin, marred only by such a prestigious event being run on the narrow ''D'' Course. The English import ran some highly-promising races in defeat last season when not fully acclimatised. He looks as if he will improve from today's outing, but could still be a touch too classy for his 13 rivals. He has to be given very serious consideration on either of two runs when a head second to Lucky Sound over today's course and distance in Class Two or when chasing home the potential International Bowl candidate Winning Partners, again over 1,400 metres in Class Two. The merit of his second to Lucky Sound is underlined by the fact that he had Sky High and Aashiq back in third and fourth with the first four home drawing almost four lengths clear of fifth-placed Super Tension. It is always a good sign when the first few place-getters draw well clear of their field as it invariably indicates very solid form. He was then right up against it when taking on Winning Partners who has since shown that he is top of Class One material. Brian Kan Ping-chee has not asked too much of Wonderful Time in his trackwork but he has been doing plenty of conditioning work on the inside. Because he has not been asked to run any amazingly quick times, it could just be that punters will take the view he is not ready, especially as he is allowed to start at decent odds despite the fact he is taking on the weakest field he has faced for sometime. His English form points to him being a progressive individual this season. Indeed, he was purchased for Hong Kong by Jack Ramsden who is arguably the shrewdest judge in Britain. Think Tank, whose only failure has come when racing on rain-softened ground, has to be a danger now that he is moved up to compete over 1,400 metres. He has always shaped as if needing this kind of trip or possibly even farther to show his full potential. Super Tension, well beaten in fifth when Wonderful Time was second to Lucky Sound, must also come into the reckoning. He was never really right last season but appears to be going much better this time round, as shown by a very fluent display in a recent barrier trial. Super Tension is very well handicappped indeed on his best form of the previous couple of seasons when he was a multiple winner for Gary Ng Ting-keung, helping to put his young handler on the training map. He is 17 lbs better off for about five lengths with Wonderful Time and looks to hold a realistic quinella chance. Leprechaun won over 1,200 metres despite finding the trip too short last time out. But while the extra ground will suit, he may need a mile to show his best. Furthermore, the form of that narrow win is not working out well with Diamond Head (second), Graceful Win (third), Turf Champ (fourth) and Another Patrol (fifth) all being well beaten in modest events since. Gay Pegasus II, David Oughton's re-classified private purchase griffin from last season, looks best of the others. He is likely to get a bit behind in the earlier stages but has been finishing off his work and his trials very strongly and could come steaming down the outside with John Moore's Amigo. The latter suffered from a bad draw last time out. The excellent 10-pound claimer Francis K. S. Lam can make all the difference to Red Star in the fifth event. Today's 1,400-metre trip is Red Star's ideal distance and with Lam reducing his weight he may be able to bounce out of the stalls and make all the running from gate nine. Red Star needed his reappearance effort when running creditably behind Flirting Dancer over a mile, which is too far from him. Prior to that he had been showing great speed in his trials and should give a good account of himself at fair odds. Dean McKeown has a good chance of recording his first win in this race on the improving Perfect Sunshine. The four-year-old has progressed well at the track since his second to Explorer and shapes as if 1,400 metres will suit. The other to throw in looks to be Bruce Hutchison's Esteemed who has been one of the very best workers at the track over the last month or so. The booking of Jeff Lloyd catches the eye, too, as Lloyd is riding as well as anyone and is an immensely talented jockey.
