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TRAINER Derek Cruz has Derby aspirations for his excellent Wind Dancer, who put on an impressive display in winning the final event on yesterday's Sha Tin card.

 As Classic hopes flared for Wind Dancer (4-1), there was an early moment of truth for Flirting Dancer, who failed by the narrowest margin to continue his winning ways towards the late February showdown.

 The Patrick Biancone-trained galloper, a magnificent winner for Mick Kinane at his last start, was given a perfect ride by Eric Legrix, but found Insider just a shade too good in the Class Two, 1,600-metre mile event.

 But there was nothing in the final event too good for Wind Dancer, who gave English rider Gary Carter a welcome winner.

 Wind Dancer was stepping up to the Hong Kong Derby distance of 1,800 metres and he relished it. His form going into the race was excellent as he had finished a game third to Fortune Leader and Right Way at his last start over a mile.

 That was a top-class effort and there was no doubt that Wind Dancer would benefit considerably from that outing.

 In the Classes One and Two nightcap, he finished half a length in front of My Home Town (6-1), who just edged out Sterling Town (5-1) in the final stride.

 Trainer Cruz, who had seen his brilliant Concert King finish last in the Remy XO Cup earlier, had his spirits lifted considerably by Wind Dancer.

 ''I will almost certainly send him straight into the Stewards' Cup now, but the ultimate aim at this stage is the Derby.

 Cruz said he had always had a lot of time for Wind Dancer. ''He showed today he was a horse they really would have to reckon with. I was not worried about the distance. Last year, he may not have seen it out, but he has matured so much since,'' he said.

 ''And this was a strong win. I am very pleased indeed with the way it went and it was a good result too for Gary.''  The young English rider has come in for some criticism recently, but all of it ill-informed. And, certainly, none could fault his exhibition on Wind Dancer.

 He gave a most polished performance, waited when he had to and then got the best out of the New Zealand four-year-old.

 ''He's a good horse and it is a pleasure to ride one that really gives you something. There were a couple of them that came at him, but he was too strong for them,'' said Carter.

 My Home Town nipped second spot in the last half-stride and there should be a distance race for the Biancone-trained galloper.

 The Kinane-ridden Timah (8-1) came home solidly for fourth, but may have found the distance just too short.

 The big disappointment was Endurance (6-1), who knocked up to finish last.

 Flirting Dancer's connections may now have a nail-biting wait to see if the youngster will even qualify for the Blue Riband event.

 He had won his last start in lower company so emphatically that few saw him losing in the Class Two, 1,600-metre third event.

  But victory went to the Ivan Allan-trained Insider (9-1), impeccably ridden by Jeff Lloyd, who is beginning to make his presence felt.

 Flirting Dancer was stepping up in class, but, for a horse with Derby ambitions, it was a field he was expected to beat.

 And the manner in which he came into the race for Legrix, who was responsible for giving the horse every possible chance, suggested at the turn that winning was a formality.

 When Legrix brought him down the centre, and was poised to pounce, it did look all over. But Flirting Dancer, unlike his last run, did not truly quicken and Insider, well handicapped on his best form of last season, doggedly beat him out of top spot.

 A short-head defeat does not mean Flirting Dancer is anything other than a good horse, but the Derby gloss has gone off him - for the moment anyway.

 Fukien Boy (6-1), another Allan runner, was a head away in third place and looks ready to oblige shortly, while Concert Boss (5-1) will relish longer.

 The only well-backed runner to disappoint in a field that went round with six of them over 50-1 was Al Bundy (9-2). The New Zealand import looked a credit to his new trainer, David Hill, but finished towards the rear.



Cruz sets Derby sights for feisty Wind Dancer