Something Special indicated he may finally have his career back on track with an excellent first-up performance and he should be able to break through in the opening leg of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at Happy Valley with the advantage of the prized inside alley.
The Tony Millard-trained gelding showed nice promise as a three-year-old, but did not quite live up to expectations last season, placing only twice in 11 appearances.
He resumed four weeks ago over 1,650 metres, was restrained from the outside alley to settle back in the field, but made a sweeping run around his rivals from the 500m. He came very wide in the straight and ran on well to finish a close-up fifth in a race dominated by the leader, but the performance showed his zest for racing was back.
The five-year-old, to be partnered for the first time by Darren Beadman, will be improved by that outing, appreciate the longer distance, and is well placed on his best form.
First Baby has looked good in his two starts this preparation and is an attractive double banker, while other worthy inclusions are Oasis Davis, Liverbird, Best Noodle and Breaking Point.
In the middle pin, Elite Fortune gets his chance to break through after coming up with an inside alley.
The Andy Leung Ting-wah-trained four-year-old turned in several good performances last season, and he ran on well from the tail of the field first-up in a race dominated by Able Dragon.