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SCMP Reporter

SUPERIOR Dragon can complete back-to-back wins for his new trainer Stephen Leung in today's third event at Sha Tin.

  It is a Class Six contest but then that is in keeping with this average programme which hardly serves as a pre-Derby spectacle.

  The seven-year-old, previously with Patrick Biancone, made a winning debut for Leung at the beginning of January when racing up on the pace and then drawing a comfortable two lengths clear of previous Class Six winner Money And Fame.

  There was another length back to Petticoat Lane in third and David Oughton's gelding is now nine pounds better off which gives him some hope of reversing the form.

  But Leung is making a big impact in his first season with a trainer's licence and he looks to have really rekindled Superior Dragon's enthusiasm.

  Superior Dragon scored from a mark of seven when beating Money And Fame and remains well handicapped from a rating of 16.

  On a difficult betting programme (as well as a dreary won for those who simply enjoy the sheer spectacle of seeing good horses run), Superior Dragon looks one of the safest punting havens.

  He should be combined in quinellas with the veteran Highway Patrol who will benefit from the move up in distance from 1,200 to 1,400 metres.

  Highway Patrol was doing all his best work at the finish to get up close home and run the quinella behind Always There last time out.

  In contrast, Green Peace, the horse he pipped for the quinella, was tiring in that 1,200-metre event and is less likely to benefit from this afternoon's extra distance.

  The other main hopes, certainly worth including in tierce wagers, are Good Boy and Petticoat Lane.

  Good Boy had no chance with Beyond Control last time out but then Beyond Control has since franked the form by running well in Class Five.

  But Good Boy forced Today's Special to pull out all the stops for second and had the others well beaten.

  Petticoat Lane should now be in peak condition after two runs back. He is still a Hong Kong maiden but the way he has fallen down the handicap scale, he must be a threat.

  Bruce Hutchison's Yangtze Treasure was desperately unlucky to be caught close home by Asian Glory last time out and looks the one they all have to beat in the second event.

  There looks to be a very good quinella here in the shape of Fook Win who was not suited by 1,800 metres last time but had previously forced Gladstonian to a neck over the Valley mile.

  The opening race could see Mount Sapphire pull off a bit of a surprise. He could start at decent odds as many may feel the 1,400-metre trip is on the short side.

  Indeed it is but trainer Wong Tang-ping has kept him fresh and he is the type to go well after a spell.

  Moreover, this is not a strong event and there is likely to be a ton of money for Cruise Missile now that Basil Marcus replaces the apprentice who rode him badly last time.

  Cruise Missile has been working well and he represents a big quinella chance but he may not represent value.

  Clear Spray has been much better than these in his day but he is beginning to become disappointing.

  It may pay to prefer Due Diligence in the quinellas with Mount Sapphire and Cruise Missile.

  Due Diligence put up an extremely eye-catching run last time when losing his place on the run to the bottom bend before staying on well enough in the straight.

  He will strip fitter for this and has been a good Class Three performer in his day.



Dragon can double up