Stars past, present and future held centre stage at yesterday's Sha Tin trials as Lucky Nine blundered, but Bundle Of Joy continued his encouraging return from injury and Thewizardofoz whet the appetite for what should be an exciting season ahead.
Ageing warhorse Lucky Nine (Brett Prebble) failed to impress in the opening heat of the morning, prompting trainer Caspar Fownes to pull the pin on a possible Sprinters Stakes start for the veteran, but later in the session David Hall's Bundle Of Joy (Gerald Mosse) showed some good signs, holding out the exciting prospect that most judges have as nominal pre-post favourite for next year's Hong Kong Derby, Thewizardofoz (Joao Moreria).
Bundle Of Joy hasn't raced since finishing fifth in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March, after which the big chestnut underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left front fetlock. Provided Bundle Of Joy comes through yesterday's 1,050m unscathed, the relatively lightly raced six-year-old will be first-up in the National Day Cup in just under two weeks, a race he won second-up last year.
Bundle Of Joy's trial win was a marked improvement on his effort a week earlier when the gelding, understandably lacking match fitness, was on and off the bit and felt for late. Yesterday Mosse took Bundle Of Joy straight to the front and this time there was no slowing in the final 200m as the 117-rated sprinter ran through the line strongly.
With top jockeys playing musical chairs on the top sprinters, Mosse has attracted the ride on Bundle Of Joy, with Joao Moreira to ride Tony Cruz-trained Peniaphobia, and presumably leaving Douglas Whyte to retain the ride on Hall's other straight track specialist, Rad, in 1,000m races.
There aren't any prizes left for nominating Thewizardofoz as a horse to follow this season after three impeccable raceday performances; put simply, the well-bred four-year-old looks bombproof, he looks as though he will relish the distances progressing up to the 2,000m of the Derby, but will be just as dangerous when resuming over less than a mile.
With a rating of 89, Thewizardofoz will resume at short odds in Class Two after a trial where he showed all of the attributes that have helped him notch his unbeaten record.
Thewizardofoz jumped cleanly and could have led, but Moreira got the son of Redoute's Choice to relax back in the field between horses before he was allowed to stride out over the closing stages when given clear room.
In the final heat of the morning, Richard Gibson's Massive Move (Whyte) trialled to the satisfaction of stewards, winning easily after an underwhelming unplaced display as favourite at Happy Valley a week and a half ago.
Perhaps the impressive trial effort will persuade Gibson to try the dirt with the son of American sire Tale Of The Cat, who is yet to win in eight starts.
