Make mine a Triple, says Sanchez

Club jockey Freddie Sanchez could have the perfect start to his new role with a win in the Happy Valley Trophy tonight on Triple Expresso.

A noted performer over the Valley longer sprint in the past, Triple Expresso ran an excellent race first-up this season for Sanchez when a close fourth behind Aggressive Dragon at Sha Tin over 1,200 metres.

That race is a key to assessing tonight's Trophy event as six of this field of 12 took part.

Triple Expresso made up a lot of ground from the rear and it will be up to the young French rider to get him away more smartly tonight. If he does, Triple Expresso is going to be involved in the finish.

He is well drawn in four and his Valley form is impressive, not least his last effort at the back end of last season under Sanchez. He was beaten by Divine Prospect but had Fastest Star, one of tonight's likely principals, more than three lengths behind.

Late season's form can complicate the issue as a number of horses will be on the way down after a hard campaign but, even on the first run of the season, Triple Expresso may have the edge on Fastest Star.

There's a two-pound weight swing to Triple Expresso for just over three-parts of a length and the horse is a winner while Fastest Star may not always show the same resolution in a finish.

Sanchez has three months to prove that he is worth an extension of his licence and he could start by doing the right thing here and winning the popular feature race. And his supporters are likely to get a good shade of odds.

Fastest Star will be ridden by Alan Munro and jumps from 12 but it is some time since he's actually won a race. He chalked up numerous placings last season and does look there to be shot at tonight.

Trainer David Hill starts both topweight Bumper Storm and Valley specialist Kowloon Pride, but is not over optimistic.

'You can never totally discount Kowloon Pride at Happy Valley, but he has run twice at Sha Tin this season and finished last on both occasions. He is not quite himself yet.

'But he is so different at the Valley that it is hard to leave him out completely.' Bumper Storm has had no luck in his past two runs, being caught wide and ridden along on both occasions. He is the class act in the field but has paid for that with a topweight of 135 pounds.

'It is obviously the weight that is the concern. He has to give a lot away to some useful performers like Fastest Star, for example. If he got the breaks of the race, I would not rule him out but it is not easy,' added Hill.

In-form Felix Coetzee is back aboard Bumper Storm and they act well together. Their last joint effort was a surprise second placing down the straight 1,000-metre course at Sha Tin.

Alf has largely been an expensive flop as he was bought with the major sprint races in mind after an exciting two-year-old career in Australia.

He remains a maiden but has chalked up a number of good minor placings and gave a decent account of himself in the Aggressive Dragon race in which he finished third.

Hard-riding Eric Legrix is aboard and Alf has a chance to boost his $1 million stakes earnings to date with another minor berth.

Kenwood Melody, who comes from Australia with a decent reputation, will be the centre of some attraction but is best watched on debut while Schubert and Pinky Long Legs have it to do.

Toy Warrior is racing out of the handicap which is not usually a recommendation, but he was not that far away from Aggressive Dragon at his seasonal debut.

He is worth consideration as he is likely to be at the longest price of his career to date.

And he remains a talented individual.