The jockeys' championship battle between Zac Purton and Joao Moreira reaches a critical juncture on Sunday at Sha Tin and it is hard to split the pair in the opening leg of the Triple Trio, where Island Garden and Kynam stand out as the double bankers.
Purton leads Moreira by nine wins with 21 meetings remaining and a momentum swing due to a big day from either ride could prove pivotal.
Purton rides Island Garden for Chris So Wai-yin and Moreira will be aboard John Moore's Kynam; the pair already finished one-two two starts back, and this time meet over the same course and distance, 1,400m, in a moderate Class Four handicap.
Last time the pair met, Island Garden was a touch unlucky - drawn wide, Purton went back and after turning was held up for a run as Moreira found daylight on the race favourite.
The two or three strides lost made all the difference as Kynam scored by half a length, but even without the slight interference, Island Garden could have got closer had he not hung in as he got to the line fast.
This time Island Garden meets his rival two pounds better off, even after a game second last start when forced to come from well back because of another bad draw behind Really The Best.
This time not only does Island Garden get the slight weight turnaround, he has drawn better in four. Three-year-old Kynam does look to have more upside of the two, though, and might have just turned a corner of sorts - nor has he drawn badly himself.
Both horses seem to be ridden better from behind and there should be enough speed to give them every chance on the A course, which can be helpful to those finishing off down the centre of the track.
Include Circuit Fortune (Gerald Mosse), who gets a cushy draw and comes back to 1,400m, where he won two starts back with the Frenchman aboard. Of the others, consider Fay Deep (Hugh Bowman), Silver Dragon (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu), Mr Vanilla (Brett Prebble) and All Times Lucky (Ben So Tik-hung).
In the middle leg, Calling With Love (Prebble) returns to Sha Tin and brings his entourage with him - owner Aaron Kwok Fu-shing and his friends are sure to have the paparazzi flashbulbs popping. Caspar Fownes might have found the right race for him in a Class Three 1,400m event.
Others to include are Gallant Triumph (Purton), Swift Shadow (Moreira) and Smart Ball (Matthew Chadwick). Snitzel Kid (Jackie Tong Chi-kit) has a sneaky place chance drawn in barrier one.
The final leg may be the toughest - an 1,800m Class Three, with no clear top pick. Go with four or five selections, and no banker: Cartoon Fay Fay (Karis Teetan), Ambassadorship (Mosse), Real Generous (Purton) and Club Life (Derek Leung Ka-chun).
