Trainer David Ferraris unearthed two promising youngsters and regular work partners at the Sha Tin barrier trials for the first time yesterday morning - and Sharema Feeling and Bear Hero could be destined for big things after recording comfortable wins in their respective 800m heats.
Bear Hero clocked the fastest 800m time of the morning at 47.19 seconds, despite being slowly away, and the promising looking two-year-old will benefit enormously from the experience.
Weichong Marwing allowed the General Nediym youngster to pull his way through to the front after the tardy jump, and did his best to keep him on the straight and narrow in his first Hong Kong barrier trial.
Runner-up Lucky Supreme was under severe pressure to go with Bear Hero over the concluding stages and the margin of almost eight lengths back to the third horse made a fib of the neck winning margin recorded by Marwing's mount.
David Hayes trained the galloper's half brother, Cheerful Boy, to a 1,650 metre win at Happy Valley in February 2005, but unlike his relative, this colt looks to be all about speed and a win over the short courses at either track can be expected when Ferraris decides he is ready to be set loose on raceday.
Marwing held Sharema Feeling down to the line for a solid half-length win in the opener in a time of 47.70 seconds - and the New Zealand bred Sharmardal gelding also had plenty in hand over runner-up Merry Towkay, despite just the half-length margin.