A clever move from reigning champion trainer Tony Cruz should reap dividends today when the consistent front runner Regency Horse adds the Association Of Hong Kong Racing Journalists' Challenge Cup (1,400m) to his record.
Regency Horse (Felix Coetzee) has already shown his prowess over the Sha Tin 1,400m with two wins and four placings from eight attempts and should relish the return to the trip again after a couple of 'educational' runs at 1,200m lately.
Not that the gelding has not performed well in those races - he beat Firm Offer fair and square at Sha Tin and that horse was unlucky to be beaten at his next run.
And at his latest outing, Regency Horse was far from disgraced giving chase to the whirlwind sprinter Adaikali around Happy Valley and finishing a close third.
But, despite his obvious ability, Regency Horse has had a history of erratic running over the final stages of his races and Cruz's decision to drop him back in distance has proved a remedy at his past two outings.
With things happening a touch more quickly in the shorter sprints, Regency Horse has gone about his business in a more straight forward manner and found the line without running about.
Cruz, and especially Coetzee who incurred a riding ban on the horse earlier in the season for interference Regency Horse caused in the final stages, will be hoping the lesson has been well learned and enable Regency Horse to return to today's more relaxed tempo just as tractably.