Opera Magic points the way to Triple Trio riches
The form around front-runner Opera Magic reads well, and he looks primed to end a long losing sequence in the middle pin of Thursday afternoon's Triple Trio at Sha Tin.
With Sunday's TT jackpot failing to go off after an impossible second leg, the main prize is expected to reach HK$33 million, and Opera Magic looks a standout banker, despite failing to win a race in more than a year.
The Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained gelding failed to manage a placing in his first 11 starts for the term, before the reapplication of blinkers sparked the eight-year-old to life last start.
He was put under heavy riding from Howard Cheng Yue-tin when the gates opened and was eventually able to cross to lead.
Despite setting fast early sectionals, he still held a two-length break as the field balanced for the run home, but couldn't repel the challenge of promising Unique Jewellery, who has since franked the form by winning two more races impressively.
The performance showed Opera Magic was well and truly back on track and set to end the season on a high note.
From gate eight this time, Cheng should have little trouble in finding the lead again and the chestnut, who normally comes good at this time each year, should have little trouble in running his rivals ragged.
Animation shapes up as the main danger on the back of some luckless performances, while others entitled to consideration are Sevens Heaven, Royal Portrait, Bite My Dust and Octagonal Canyon.
In the opening leg, Daylight Express fits the banker bill on the back of a terrific effort at his Class Five debut on March 30.
The Yip-trained gelding, who has been disappointing , struck early interference after a good getaway and was with the tailenders as the field reached the 800m mark.
He made a sweeping run around the field, came wide in the straight, and ran on well to be beaten only a length by Withallmyheart.
The four-year-old will only need better luck in running to prove the one to beat, with his main danger to come from impressive last-start winner Wavy Peak.
The Ricky Yiu Poon-fei-trained gelding showed the benefit of two runs from a break when narrowly beaten by Accelerator two starts back, before returning to his best with an effortless victory.
He should get the run of the race from gate one to repeat the dose, while Multi-Win Spirit, Shining Dragon, Triumphant Glory and Diamond Flyer are worth keeping safe.
The final leg appears wide open, but Expeditious showed with a terrific performance last time that his winning turn has finally arrived.
The Peter Ng Bik-keun-trained gelding was shunted wide from the 800m mark, improved to take the lead shortly after turning for home, and was only grabbed in the closing stages by The Goodies.
The performance indicated he was ready to find winning form, and he will only need to be ridden more patiently on this occasion to be the one to beat.
China Lujia has to overcome the horror gate 14, but he shapes up as the main danger on the back of a terrific effort last start.
The four-year-old was checked out of the gates, but pressed forward to share the lead and only came up millimetres short of beating China Hero.
He should press forward from the gate and prove hard to hold out, while others capable of figuring in the act are King Fay Fay, Natural Fatchoy, Majestic Heart and Cash Money.
