Weights don't tell the full story of a race, but they will go a long way to the John Moore-trained Mighty High taking a well-deserved Group One in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) today.
The five-year-old has not carried the boom reputation that accompanies some horses, but has been a gallant, consistent trier with nine starts for a Group Three win, two seconds and three thirds and a meritorious seventh in the Hong Kong Vase over this trip in December against peak opposition.
At his latest outing, Mighty High and Darren Beadman had to cope with a 133-pound handicap in the saddle that weakened Beadman's willingness to use the horse when the pace was slow in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup at this trip.
As a result, Matthew Chadwick was left alone in the lead and able to take advantage of Super Pistachio's 113-pound handicap to rattle off a brilliant final section from the top of the straight and hold off all challengers.
Now the weights swing around by 20 pounds in Mighty High's favour and, with all the runners on the same handicap, the race favours the best horse, which on current form is Mighty High.
Nevertheless, punters should again be wary of the Tony Cruz-trained Super Pistachio, a genuine stayer whose best two performances in Hong Kong have been at 2,400m.
