Manfred Man Ka-leung's Golden Scalpel can slice through the middle leg of the Triple Trio and act as banker with the help of a step up in trip and a perfect draw at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Golden Scalpel was a touch unlucky last start when beaten a short head over 1,800m at Happy Valley by Dragon Bachelor - a rival again here.
Zac Purton, who rides again on Sunday, was well-placed approaching the 400m mark, having ridden the gelding in a perfect one-off position just off the speed. He was forced to go earlier than he wanted though when Joao Moreira pushed up on his outside after being trapped wide. Despite going for home early, Golden Scalpel fought gamely and was doing his best work on the line, the winner getting a much softer inside run and just prevailing.
A two-time winner over a mile as a three-year-old in England, Golden Scalpel was always going to want further than the sprint and mile journeys, and with a rating that has dropped as low as 52 last time out - from an initial mark of 72 - his recent consistent efforts show he has found a level where he is competitive and he will win soon.
Each of Golden Scalpel's last three runs have been solid - the last two after recovering from lameness in his left rear leg that saw him withdrawn from a race in late January. Since then the six-year-old has built up to this with solid runs at the Valley, as he was stepped up in trip from 1,650m to 1,800m. Now with a move back to Sha Tin - and an extra furlong - Golden Scalpel can account for a Class Four field containing the usual suspects for this type of race.
Last time Purton had to ride Golden Scalpel along to maintain a spot early, but Man has put visors on Golden Scalpel, and that should ensure he is sharp enough to take advantage of the draw. Purton should stay handy again in what could easily become a slowly run race in the middle stages. Expect speed early from the outside gates, as Superking Dragon and Win Along are pushed forward from wide draws after jumping from the tricky starting position - but if no one challenges the front runners, it could favour those up front.
Others to include are China Delight (Keith Yeung Ming-lun) - with Francis Lui Ki-wai taking the blinkers off to help with the trip rise - and Dragon Bachelor (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu). And look out for Ambitious Dragon's far less-talented brother Ocean Power (Karis Teetan) - he has drawn one, he gets to a suitable 2,000m for the first time and comes off a narrow second to Activism.
The opening leg is a Class Four over the mile, where Purton again looks like he has found the banker in Peter Ho Leung's Kissmet.
Me Tsui Yu-sak may have thought Lucky Dan (Brett Prebble) was, as his name suggests, lucky two starts back, but this doesn't look a much tougher assignment. Also include Eternal Gains (Alex Lai Hoi-wing), Super Team (Ho) and consider King's Folks (Olivier Doleuze).
In the final leg, stand out Royale Elegance (Matthew Chadwick), despite his last start failure - he drops into gate one against an average Class Four field. Even though he has drawn wide, be sure to include Sparkling Sword (Prebble).
Chang's first starter Good Fit (Doleuze) made considerable progression at his third and final trial leading into this, and looms as a real threat in what is not an overly competitive race. The two others to consider are fit, last-start winners Fay Deep (Derek Leung Ka-chun) and Penny Lane (Teetan).
