El Morro could not have made a better impression when winning his Hong Kong debut and should have little trouble in winning the middle pin of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at Happy Valley, despite a rise in weight.
The Brief Truce gelding was a brilliant winner of his only start in Australia, but was sent out at juicy odds at Sha Tin on September 26 after drawing a wide barrier.
The alley proved no obstacle for the Caspar Fownes-trained four-year-old as he showed brilliant gate speed to cross to the front before James Winks took hold to get some valuable cover behind Gilded Flight.
He was held up early in the straight but showed a great turn of foot when in the clear to put the race beyond doubt in a few strides and win with something in hand. A switch to Happy Valley will hold no fears for El Morro, given he is already a trial winner around the circuit, and he looks to have his rivals covered again after coming up with gate four.
His tougher opposition will come from Macho Expresso, Super Charge, Smart Choice and Invinciblekindnress.
In the opening leg, Regency Kingdom should be able to put an end to a run of bad luck by returning to his best.
The Tony Cruz-trained gelding was unlucky not to go close to winning first-up from a break after being held up at crucial part of the race, before having genuine excuses last time out after being posted right off the track.