Repeat performances on the cards

If you have an acute feeling of deja vu going into today's 10-race meeting on the all-weather track, your senses are well attuned because six of the winners from this meeting last year will be back in action.

Joy Trumps, Fat Choy Forever, Sea Treasure, Only You, Taiji Spirit and Expectations all won at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago.

In addition, minor placegetters from last year in the shape of Shining Day, Golden Care, Gaucho and California Heart will be out to make amends.

Taiji Spirit looks one of the best prospects for a repeat victory, with trainer Tony Millard appearing to have primed him to score first-up once again.

The gelding was devastating last year when resuming from a spell at this fixture, having not raced for 118 days but blowing his rivals away with a strong turn of stretch speed to score in the very fast time of 1:08.9.

Millard has fitted him for this assignment with two barrier trials, the second one resulting in an impressive three-length win from Bullish Star in a time that was 0.4 seconds better than trials standard after adjusting for the speed of the track on the day.

Taiji Spirit was a well-fancied $45 chance on last night's opening market call.

Peter Ng Bik-kuen's Expectations was impressive last year in winning the Class Two sprint and has sound claims for a follow-up victory. Last year he was handled by Eric Saint-Martin but this time compatriot Olivier Doleuze has charge of the reins.

Only You and Shining Day quinellaed the Class Four over 1,650m and renew hostilities in the next edition of the race. Like Taiji Spirit, the mount on Only You has gone to Felix Coetzee, whose first-hand knowledge of Shining Day from his days as Tony Cruz's stable jockey could give him a crucial edge if it comes down to a battle between them.