The weights have fallen in favour of Vitality Champ and Chris Munce, with the promising Danehill gelding primed to return to his best in the final leg of Sunday's Triple Trio at Sha Tin. With the TT being only partially won at last Sunday's meeting, the pool is expected to swell to $23 million and Vitality Champ looks a standout banker with his light weight of 113 pounds. Douglas Whyte was aboard the John Size-trained gelding when he resumed from a spell on May 13 with the four-year-old turning in a good effort to finish fifth to Elegant King Prawn after overcoming the outside barrier and racing keenly early. Vitality Champ loomed to figure in the finish in the home straight before his condition just gave out in the closing stages, finishing less than three lengths from the winner. Whyte has wasted hard to ride at 113 pounds only five times in his Hong Kong career, but not since 1999, which has opened the door for Munce to take the prized mount, with Whyte looking set to partner one of the main dangers in Summerville Power. With Vitality Champ drawn favourably in gate six, Munce should be able to have him right on the back of the speed, likely to be set by Freebird and California Luck, and he should be able to return to his best. It's worth noting that Vitality Champ made a quantum leap of improvement second-up earlier in the season when registering his first victory in good fashion. The biggest danger will come from Regal Thrills, who backs up from a solid effort in an unsuitable race at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The Royal Academy filly showed good improvement second-up from a spell when working to the line soundly behind Chater Silk and the final stages of her race on Wednesday, when finding the 1,000 metres far too short, strengthened the belief she was on the verge of finding form. The Almond Lee Yee-tat-trained five-year-old is gifted all the favours here after coming up with gate one for Mick Kinane and she should relish the rise to 1,600m. Summerville Power, who has only missed a place once in his last six starts, looks primed to run well, while other worthy inclusions are Award, Good View Success, Delightful Win and regular bridesmaid Freebird is sure to prove competitive again. The opening leg looks tricky but don't be surprised to see the capable Dansolde turn around his recent form and bounce back to his best. The Paul O'Sullivan-trained gelding is a two-time course and distance winner this season and his recent runs have been better than they appear, especially his last outing when ridden back from a wide barrier. He can be ridden more prominently from a good gate and he is nicely placed on his best form. The main competition will come from Quality-Quality, Silver Mark, Fujian Prince, Nicku Nicku and Red Wine Honey. The middle pin also looks difficult but promising three-year-old Caga Boy is worth another chance with the blinkers being added for the first time. He put the writing on the wall two starts back with a good effort behind Circular Machine and had excuses last start after being tight on room at a vital stage in the straight. If the blinkers bring about any improvement, he should be able to break through, with the hardest to beat being Jade Dancer, Global Leader, Devon Flair and Rich For All.
