Eyes on model Citizen
While the promise of Triple Trio riches will lure many to Sha Tin tonight, the best contest on the card is race two - a Classes One and Two dash on the dirt where much interest surrounds the local debut of smart Argentinian performer, Citizen Kane.
Multiple Group-placed at home, Citizen Kane and his connections will be hoping for better luck than that which befell Litigado when he made his debut at Sha Tin six weeks ago.
Although it was over the short sprint on the grass and Litigado's Buenos Aires' form had been over much longer, it didn't stop the horse being backed into 3-1 favouritism.
But he made no impression in a race won in good style by Ivan Allan's classy Futurity winner Tajasur.
Citizen Kane will have his work cut out on debut but is not hopeless as trainer Tony Millard, enjoying a sensational first season, has been putting good work into the three-year-old.
Frankly, unless there are ridiculous odds about the son of Ibero, he is not seen as a win bet but he can be included in quinella and tierce investments.
Of the 12 runners lining up for the dash half have virtually no chance of winning, which should give punters a chance to come away with something.
Five of the top six are from the top grade and that is a good guide in itself. Select a couple of them that go well on the dirt and you're halfway there.
Long-serving Lawrie Fownes has Express Duke in the field carrying topweight and stable jockey Wendyll Woods. The minimum trip suits and the Australian-bred seven-year-old is well able to carry the impost.
On his best form he would be a very solid chance in a field like this.
Trainer Bruce Hutchison has called for the pacifiers for the second time for useful Red Zone and sticks with compatriot Steven Baster for the riding duties.
They won last time at Happy Valley over the longer sprint, beating Expedient who went on to frank the form in no uncertain fashion at his next start where he gave them a galloping lesson over 1,650 metres on a city track gravely biased towards front runners.
Brian Kan Ping-chee, with the Gold Cup and Queen Elizabeth II Cup safely on the sideboard after the exploits of Industrialist, goes into tonight's showpiece triple-handed.
No Money No Honey, Mighty And Gold and King Of Toys all represent the stable with locally based French ace, Eric Saint-Martin, arguably the most dangerous on Mighty And Gold.
Like most inmates of the Kan yard, Mighty And Gold has not been allowed to relax too much this campaign. His master believes in his horses earning their oats and Mighty And Gold has been doing just that.
He is by no means the strongest hope but has the ability to be right there at the finish. Everything will depend on the run of the race as he has drawn out in barrier 10 and will need a little luck to get into the action from there.
The surprise package could be Brave Star from the stable of John Moore with Robbie Fradd up.
The Australian is right up against it in the hunt for training honours as local hero Tony Cruz continues to rack up the winners - with good chances of at least one more tonight.
Fradd, who has the jockeys' title all but tied up, has been given the task of rekindling the fire in Brave Star so that he might shine as he did as a youngster.
Graphic: se1150glo
