Boy has mark of likely winner

THERE was plenty to like about Fukien Boy's Hongkong debut run last Saturday, when running on nicely for fourth spot behind the strongly fancied Heavily Armed.

Coming from well off the pace he boxed on nicely along the inside rail for a very pleasing initial run and had the look of one to note for the future.

Trained by Ivan Allen, he has wasted no time in running the promising young Irish three-year-old again and significantly Basil Marcus looks to have elected him ahead of Allen's other runner in the race Sterling Town.

Significantly because Marcus won on Sterling Town over course and distance two weeks ago.

Fukien Boy raced under the name of John Peel prior to coming here from Ireland and came to these shores as a useful sort who showed much improved form at his final two starts in the Emerald Isle.

In his penultimate start over there he was produced inside the final furlong for a neck win over subsequent winner Dark Reef in a 10-runner Fairyhouse maiden over 1,200 metres.

He stepped up to the Curragh after that run and finished a good length second in a 22-runner nursery over 1400 metres.

He has continued to please the track watchers in the morning and should prove very hard to beat in the third event this afternoon.

However it is a fairly good field he lines up against and no doubt plenty of support will come for the Tony Cruz-ridden Namjong Again to defeat him.

Splendid was a top run over course and distance on his debut run on a good to yielding track which he could possibly get again if the weather forecasters get it right.

He finished second that day and you can look for him to run well again and is a definite quinella threat.

Super Falcon a last start winner should also be respected but Fukien Boy should prove too classy for them all.