All the plaudits after the eighth at Sha Tin went to a very nice horse on his way to winning in Class Two, Smart Volatility, but Glorious Sunday is also headed higher and worth keeping tabs on.
A local maiden, Glorious Sunday had the misfortune to meet Rad and Bobo Dragon in Class Three last term, but on the weekend it had more to do with good old-fashioned luck of the draw.
Taken back from a wide alley, Glorious Sunday was cleaned up nearing the first turn, then encountered a chequered passage between horses as he closed well up the inside of the straight.
It was disappointment for backers but there was not a lot wrong with the performance in a race where it was all happening closer to the speed for the placegetters.
The Caspar Fownes-trained Mighty K doesn't seem to attract good luck, but he is at a handicap where he is dangerous and his return behind Jun Gong showed him at the top of his form. It was hardly a race for the greats but, in short, Mighty K should have won comfortably.
Zac Purton had him poised midfield and covered up, but the shape of the race went against him. The leaders worked from the 1,200m to the 800m turn in 21.72 seconds, but once Great Stories found the top he steadied, the field packed before straightening and then it was just one of those things.
Mighty K was stuck behind horses who were gassed and just hanging around, then King's Pact came around him to finish the job and ensure Mighty K lost his place while the winning of the race was happening up ahead. He isn't going to set the world on fire, but the gelding is on schedule to win one shortly.
