CHAMPION jockey Basil Marcus is adept at picking up rides on the verge of winning and he has secured the choice mount on Planet in the first leg of the Double Trio at Sha Tin tomorrow night.
Marcus, who had an unaccustomed slow start to the season, has flexed his muscles recently and is right in there fighting to retain his crown. He certainly has the material to work with in the shape of handy stayer Planet in this Class Three, 1,900-metre event.
Planet has some fairly awesome form to his name when considering this race - not least a victory over Miss Piggy who is now reaching the higher staying ranks locally.
And few will doubt that Planet can turn the tables on New Leaf who beat him by just over two lengths over this trip at Sha Tin on October 2. Planet, in need of the run, battled on well and is now seven pounds in with New Leaf, more than enough to reverse the form.
With this night meeting at Sha Tin, it also falls in Planet's favour as all his form has been at the New Territories course rather than the city track used to host 99 per cent of midweek meetings.
The biggest threat is the Lawrie Fownes-trained Cricket Lord who ran up a hat-trick of wins last season and will be an even better proposition this time around.
Fownes has put plenty of work into the horse and he will run well. It will be no surprise if Cricket Lord obliges but he will come out of this race in even better shape and would be something of a special at Sha Tin over a suitable trip.