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SCMP Reporter

Five trainers and five SCMP experts gaze into their crystal balls to pick their favourites for the year ahead

TRAINERS

JOHN SIZE

The obvious would be to say Armada and Danacourt though they will be in tough races and I'd nominate a horse like Fly Me To The Moon as one to follow. He won two races as a three-year-old when I thought he was lacking strength. On his dam side, he has a bit of stamina so he'll be tried over a bit farther as the season goes on and he's the type who can pick up a couple of races. I've also got an unraced four-year-old I quite like, and by the same sire as Thistle King, called Sweet Baby.

1 Fly Me To The Moon

2 Sweet Baby

JOHN MOORE

Viva Pataca established himself very quickly as one of the best horses here and I hope he can win his share of Group races this season. I've also bought Mr Stanley Ho a new horse called Dilak, who I have high hopes of making a quick impact. Of the ones from last season, I do think Able One will be a better horse. He did well last season but will be more mature after his break and even though he's a 91-rater now, I think he can go higher.

1 Viva Pataca

2 Able One

DANNY SHUM CHAP-SHING

My standout is All's Well, who had a great season as a three-year-old and will be improved this season. He has only raced up to a mile so far but I'm expecting him to get longer distances and to become my Derby horse. The other horse I hope I can win a race with is Universal Komissar. He's only a low grade horse but his owner is a lovely lady and I'm really hoping he can win one for her.

1 All's Well

2 Universal Komissar

CASPAR FOWNES

I had some nice griffins last season including Money Man, who is a nice sprinter, foolproof. He saves himself for racedays which is usually a good sign and I think he can go through his classes. Win Practitioner is another who was able to win at his first run, even though he was green, and I'm sure he'll be better as a three-year-old and over a bit farther. One which might not be as obvious is Super Goal Master. I didn?t expect a lot of him last season as a griffin but he's the sort who can improve to win a couple of races.

1 Money Man

2 Win Practitioner

ANDREAS SCHUTZ

I am not starting with a big team but that doesn?t have to be a big disadvantage and the two I'd choose to be running well early would be Century Super Star and Ball Of Fire. With Century Super Star, I've been working on getting his mind right and I was very pleased with the application he showed in winning a trial last Saturday night. Ball Of Fire has muscled up since he joined the yard and I was very encouraged by his third in a trial last week. On a 34 rating, he is capable of winning one early in Class Five.

1 Century Super Star

2 Ball of Fire

TIPSTERS

MURRAY BELL

Calcando has shown ability from his first gallops, but has always indicated he would take time to mature. He won two races last preparation and his recent trial win indicates he has come back possibly better and the handicapper doesn't have his measure yet. Fokine is a horse renowned for his first-up ability and his second to stablemate Regency Horse in a trial on August 25 was excellent. Looks a good bet for an early win.

1 Calcando

2 Fokine

ALAN AITKEN

John Size hasn't done a great deal yet with an unraced, unnamed gelding, Brand H066, but look out when he does. The O'Reilly breed have shown themselves to be suited in Hong Kong and this gelding's trial win in Sydney last May suggested he will make his way to Class One. Look out for him in a couple of months. David Hall has a couple of nice lightly raced horses in the yard including Hawkes Bay, who won two races last season but didn't look quite at his top and Hall's handling of the horse then suggested he is expecting more this season.

1 Brand H066

2 Hawkes Bay

JOHN BELL

Caspar Fownes' Win Practitioner made a huge impression in winning at his debut last season despite doing a lot wrong. With the benefit of experience and maturity he should make into an aboveaverage three-year-old this season. Kindacross could also improve this season. He hasn't won one yet but some of his performances were terrific. Already a multiple Group winner in New Zealand, he's set to show the benefit of having one local season under his belt.

1 Win Practitioner

2 Kindacross

SHIHAM RAMIZ

John Size's private purchase griffin, Armada, was the talk of the town last season, registering six wins on the trot. He is by the sire of Towkay, who has produced a number of local winners. The five-year-old can stamp himself as one of the season's big group winning horses. Viva Pataca was so impressive in winning the Champions & Chater and the Derby, and should fly the Hong Kong flag proudly in the internationals. John Moore's stayer has trained on well and looks primed to live up to expectations.

1 Armada

2 Viva Pataca

MARK RICHARDS

Two horses who we haven't seen a lot of yet are Jade Dragonfly from Paul O'Sullivan's yard and David Hall's three-year-old Thunder Flash. Jade Dragonfly did win one but he looked big and backward and he'll be better this season. He looks a stayer in the making, and the staying races can often be an easy pick-up for a progressive horse. Thunder Flash ran well at debut, then his second run probably came up too soon. He trialled well last Saturday and could rise very quickly up the ratings.

1 Jade Dragonfly

2 Thunder Flash



From the horse's mouth