RACE 7 - THE QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP

Happy Zero (2) has continued his brilliant form this season with straight Group wins sprinting before a solid effort for second behind Good Ba Ba in the HK Mile (Gr.1) and returned off a setback for a third behind Sacred Kingdom over the 1,200m. Fitter over an ideal 1,400m and is a leading chance. Fellowship (3) is enjoying an incredible season with two top wins over a mile, including last month's Stewards Cup (Gr.1) and was a held-up second, beaten a whisker, by Egyptian Ra in October over this trip. He merits respect. Sunny King (5) has come up big in his past four runs after a gear change to just a hood for a win, second and third over this trip and exits a terrific second behind Sacred Kingdom in a Group One over 1,200m. Veteran Egyptian Ra (1) has trouble maintaining his speed up to a mile now, but still has yet to have any peers in two runs over the 1,400m this season and remains a pace threat.

RACE 8 - THE MERCEDES-BENZ HONG KONG DERBY

King Dancer (5) appears to have hit top form at the right time following an exciting win in the Derby Trial last month over the 1,800m and will relish the extra 200m. He's one of the main chances in an open race. Super Satin (6) has hit top form this season for four wins up to 1,800m and two seconds - coming up just short by a neck in the Derby Trial and is the choice ride of Douglas Whyte. He'll be hard to keep out of the finish. The unbeaten Brave Kid (3) can make racing history with a seventh straight win this season after chalking up a nice Class One victory last start over the 1,800m off a big weight and Australian Brett Prebble is 'Johnny On The Spot' with this lovely pick-up ride. Beauty Flash (1) made it six wins from eight local starts with an easy front-running success in the Classic Mile two starts back before a handy third in the Derby Trial and remains a pace threat.

(from Hong Kong Jockey Club)

The CSL Million Challenge winds down to its thrilling conclusion in the Kwai Fong Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley tonight and the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Tai Sing Yeh is out of contention, but that should only finish all the more nail-biting. Tai Sing Yeh (Brett Prebble) has been the best horse to come through the six-month series for Class Three horses and above this season, but he won't be the winner of it as even maximum points in the finale won't be sufficient.

The three-year-old has 34 points, 19 behind Loyal Army, who sits in the driver's seat and with only 15 available this evening - but Tai Sing Yeh still looks the standout in the race that could make minor points, yet prove the deciding factor for the Million Challenge. Five horses engaged this time can win the series: Norman Invader, who must win race six to have any chance; Strawberry, in the same boat in the seventh; and Loyal Army, Good Strike and Nugget Warrior are all engaged in the last race.

Should Loyal Army (Andreas Suborics) win, then there is nothing to discuss but, if Tai Sing Yeh wins as is expected of short-priced favourites, things will be far more interesting if Norman Invader or Strawberry happened to win earlier.

If Tai Sing Yeh goes over, then the equations open up, but even from an awkward draw in barrier 10 he looks the winner.

A horse destined for better things, the son of Not A Single Doubt failed to overcome a difficult gate last time when he protested successfully to wind up third to El Zonda, but that was over 1,000m.

Ultimately, when he ventures across to Sha Tin, Tai Sing Yeh might find himself well suited by 1,400m, so the drop last time to the minimum trip - unavoidable for Man if he was to have had a shot at the Million Challenge with the horse - wasn't the perfect recipe.

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Trainer Paul O'Sullivan has had a stellar start to the new calendar year with a major victory in the Group One Stewards' Cup last month and the winning haul can continue with Napa II in the 18 Districts Cup - the final leg of Sunday's Triple Trio at Sha Tin. Napa II has been a good flag bearer for the stable since stepping out last April, winning once and placing twice in his first season of racing, and has maintained his consistency in five runs this campaign.

He made a winning return off a big weight in Class Four over the 1,400m on October 17, before making a sound bid late for a third and a second respectively behind smart Algarve over the 1,600m in this grade.

With Algarve out of the way, the four-year-old ran down My Goal to taste victory again on New Year's Day over the 1,600m.

O'Sullivan then stepped him up to 2,000m for the first time. He was caught behind a wall of horses at the head of the straight before finding daylight 300m out to run on strongly late for fourth behind Lhojong.

The son of Red Ransom should be suited to the 1,800m and looks the logical banker from gate one.

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The last month must feel like one of the longest in jockey Darren Beadman's celebrated career - after the champion Australian raised the bat for a half-century of outs yesterday. It has been a frustrating start to the year for both Beadman and trainer John Moore, who have had a string of recent placings without getting a drought breaker since their last win 53 runs ago with Lucky Amore on January 6, reports the HK Racing Post.

It says: The duo have combined for 17 placings since then and to rub salt into the wound had to submit to two more narrow defeats late on the card - Elegance Desire finishing a short head second to the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained, and ironically named, Cheerful City in the last.

Shum, however, deserved to be cheerful after successfully bringing his galloper back from some fetlock troubles.

"The owner bought this horse himself and according to his pedigree he was always going to be able to get more distance, but unfortunately an injury to his fetlock has meant we have had to keep him to the sprint distances at Happy Valley recently," Shum said.

"We decided to try him over further with the blinkers off and he was able to perform much better."

Beadman and Moore's other runner-up, Irish Jig, was bettered by the Almond Lee Yee-tat-trained Ole Ole, who lobbed at odds of $873.50 with just 105 pounds and apprentice rider Ben So Tik-hung on his back.

"I have to give all the credit for the win to the weight," Lee said. "The horse has not been reliable and he's only a small horse so his future might be limited. But maybe he will be like Top Honor, who I trained before. He was disappointing until he found the dirt.

From racing.scmp.com

The "Kings of Happy Valley" - jockey Brett Prebble and trainer Caspar Fownes - continued their dominance of the midweek meetings by each securing yet another winning treble at Wednesday night's meeting. Fownes and Prebble combined for a winning double with Victory Mascot and O'Reilly Magic - while each claimed separate wins to each rack up a three-timer.

"King of the Valley is not a tag I want, I want to win the big races at Sha Tin as well, but it's always great to win any race and I was very confident I was on some good chances tonight," Prebble said.

Prebble had already won on Country Magic for trainer Tony Cruz before he combined with Fownes to win on O'Reilly's Magic and Victory Mascot.

"Brett rode O'Reilly's Magic exactly how I wanted him ridden, Victory Mascot was just too good tonight and is always very honest," Fownes said.

"Victory Mascot is well suited by the 2,200 metre races at the Valley, but he can run a good race over the shorter distances as long as he gets a strong early tempo. O'Reilly's Magic has a terrific owner who has been very patient, and that has really been the making of the horse - now we can reap the rewards."

Fownes secured the third win of his treble with Dumbarton Rock, who was too tough for his rivals over the 1,650m of the Chater Handicap and was driven to a gutsy victory by Douglas Whyte.

Country Magic was a late pick-up ride for Prebble, after suspended jockey Marco Chui Kwan-Lai had to forfeit the booking owing to a positive result from a urine sample taken after last week's Valley meeting.

Prebble used every bit of his strength to lift the Tony Cruz-trained gelding to a narrow victory over Destiny's Child and Season Linkz to claim the Edinburgh Handicap (1,200m) by a head.

Chui's punishment - whatever the result of his B sample - has already begun to increase, as the rider also missed out on claiming a winning double on the Cruz-trained stablemate, El Zonda, who saluted later in the programme with Jeff Lloyd in the saddle.

from RACING POST (www.racing.scmp.com)

Trainer Sean Woods didn't mix words when he sent Johan Victoire out to give Diamond Knight a strong gallop at yesterday's Sha Tin barrier trials - and the gelding responded, leading throughout to win the second heat by four lengths in a time of 61.10 seconds. Despite the winner being given some serious fitness work, it was the David Hall-trained Merry Way who caught the eye as he cruised to an easy striding second with Brett Prebble in the saddle.

Merry Way moved strongly into the 1,050m trial on the all-weather track upon entering the straight and began cutting into the tiring leader's margin in the final furlong without a great deal of pressure.

One of the lowest rated horses in training, Magic Practitioner, who boasts the unenviable rating of 10, was ridden hard along the rails to finish a respectable fourth, six lengths behind the winner, who is rated at 78, and two behind Merry Way, who sits on the benchmark of 74.

Magic Practitioner's new trainer, Peter Ho Leung, may be considering taking a different tack with the Perugino four-year-old in the near future after his previous handler, Me Tsui Yu-sak, exhausted a host of gear changes in a bid to improve his results.

Magic Practitioner has yet to be tried under race conditions on the dirt, but this blow-out may convince his trainer to switch to this surface in a final effort to save the horse from an early retirement. Manfred Man Ka-Leung's Electronic Master appeased stewards and gained the all-clear to return to racing by finishing third after he was withdrawn at his latest start when he became fractious in the barriers.

Man also had Moonglow passed fit to return to action in the first heat, which was taken out by Berio, who completed his 1,050m assignment in a time of 61.39 seconds under the guidance of Douglas Whyte.

Brett Prebble has become this season's "King of Happy Valley" and can further cement his place on the throne with a full book of rides at tonight's meeting. Prebble has ridden 20 winners at the city track - almost double that of his nearest rival, apprentice Keith Yeung Ming-lun (11 wins) - and that statistic stands him in good stead.

Prebble has been listed a $2.80 favourite in early betting, and should be able to topple in-form Douglas Whyte ($4), who stole the show at Sha Tin on Sunday with four winners.

Interestingly, Yeung may be an outside chance at $17 as one of Prebble's few threats, but with Whyte and Yeung only boasting six rides each, both will need to score heavily with their main chances to be any hope.

Kingston Temple and Glorious Giant have claims for Prebble in the first two races, while Master Rio looks a standout for the Australian in race three.

From there, Unique Speed and Bolero will need some expert guidance from wide gates but, given the way Prebble has been steering them around the Valley of late, you wouldn't want to bet against that happening.

Flying In is a major chance in the Cameron Handicap, while last-start winner Vanquish Delight will take a power of beating in the Police Cup.

Double Luck can end the night on a high for Prebble, who has won the previous two Happy Valley Jockey Challenges and looks likely to chalk up a hat-trick.

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Tony Cruz's newly gelded St Fevre made a better impression at yesterday's Sha Tin barrier trials than in his Hong Kong debut when the then Dehere colt tailed off last on November 22.

He had a tough run on the speed in his debut and was later found to have substantial blood in the trachea.

St Fevre had a busy run in the early stages, settling second last, improving around the outside to third, before being turned back to the inside by Matthew Chadwick to find the lead. He peeled away in the straight to win the 1,050m all-weather heat by over three lengths in a time of 62.56 seconds.

St Fevre won as a two-year-old in New Zealand, before finishing second to The Heckler in the Group One Sire's Produce Stakes (1,400m) and sits on a rating of 87.

The strong performance ensured he was passed fit to return to action, and the three-year-old should make his presence felt when he takes his place next time.

The Me Tsui Yu-sak trained Team Work also caught the eye finishing third, despite finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind St Fevre. He dropped out to the rear with the blinkers on and then made good ground along the rails in the straight, despite his momentum being slowed for a few strides.

The second 1,050m dirt heat was taken out by the Almond Lee Yee-tat trained Leading City, who led throughout in a slower time of 64.07 seconds.

Ka Ka's Prosperity made appeal with his easy striding effort down the centre of the course to finish third. He is entered for Saturday's Sha Tin meeting where he will tackle the Class Three Canarvon Handicap (1,400m) at his second start.

The grey took a long time to settle at his Happy Valley debut on December 9 and was caught too far back upon straightening to be a threat over the 1,200m.

It should be noted both horses who trialled last Tuesday and were presented at the races on Sunday - Healthy Blueberry and Cerise Cherry - performed admirably for strong placings.

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There was a sense of deja vu at Sha Tin on Sunday as John Size reeled off his sixth treble there in as many weeks and ended yesterday with the "D" word bandied about for unbeaten Brave Kid.

The Dream Team of Size and champion jockey Douglas Whyte strung together victories with hotpots National Treasure, Presto and Brave Kid on an afternoon that rained favourites, but it was the almost four-length margin for Brave Kid that had Size watering down any talk of the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby.

"He's an entry for the race - a lot of horses are - but at this stage that is not the plan," Size said.

"The plan is to keep trying to find races that Brave Kid can win. If he is able to keep winning and going up the ratings to the point where it makes some sense to look at a race like the Derby, then we can, but we'll wait and see. He won with a 70-rating today so it's a way off."

Both Size and Whyte pointed out that, in contrast to four-year-old's narrow victory under difficulties last time, nothing at all went wrong for him this time from a good draw.

"Off a bad draw last run, he raced fiercely down the back early. From a good gate, Brave Kid got cover early, settled quicker and therefore put more into his finish today," said Size.

Yet indications are already that Brave Kid will handle further than the 1,400m and Whyte said the gelding was deceptively strong once in front.

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Jockey Club officials again did a poor job of concealing their mirth as turnover all but touched the rare billion dollar barrier on the mixed all-weather and turf card. The pari-mutuel handle fell just over HK$6 million short of a billion - up by over HK$78 million on last year's meeting - but the bigger story was that the boost of Jockey Challenge betting more than tipped it over the edge.

Yesterday's Challenge attracted a record hold before the meeting began, and then a record in-play handle as well, with a total of around HK$11 million bet on the jockey honours by the time it closed.

"It was really fantastic and I'm sure that the turnover was helped by having our top three jockeys on the table, Brett Prebble, Matthew Chadwick and Douglas Whyte see-sawing for the lead and favouritism in the early races," said chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

Prebble had been $3.50 before running right away with the first on Fortune Dragon in a result that saw him shorten to $1.90 favouritism before Chadwick hit back with the next two races to go favourite, then the overnight odds-on favourite, Whyte, put the game to bed in the back half of the programme with a treble.

Prebble said he was unaware that cellar-dweller Fortune Dragon was running away with the Class Five by almost five lengths - which will surely earn him a big ratings hike.

"Put it this way - I kept him going because he didn't feel like he was finding the line that strongly," Prebble said.

"I think the margin was flattered by the other Class Fivers not getting to the line or just giving up.

"Plenty of them do." (www.racing.scmp.com)

The Untouchablelad has been knocking on the door and gets a golden opportunity to breakthrough over a suitable 1,650-metre journey in a tricky opening leg of tomorrow night's Happy Valley Triple Trio, estimated at HK$3 million.

The New Zealand-bred three-year-old was never a factor when stepping out for his debut at Sha Tin in mid-November, but took the bull by the horns in two 1,200m runs last month at Happy Valley - coming from well back with a strong final 400 metres in 23.04 for third behind Megabucks and Asian Citrus at 70-1 odds, before making another swift 22.55 sectional from near last down the outside with a visor for third again behind Perfect Gear and Just Chill.

A son of Monolith and the Lord Ballina-mare Kilmaghenny, The Untouchablelad is a half brother to Royal Admiral, a winner of the Group Two Singapore Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2,000m in 2007, and will be suited perfectly to this trip.

Trainer Peter Ho Leung has taken the visor off him this time, but he should be toppling them all late for regular rider Alex Lai Hoi-wing.

Leo's Pride defied an outside gate to break his duck last month over this course and distance and has top apprentice Matthew Chadwick's claim to compensate for a six-point penalty.

He can play a dual banker role from a good gate, while in-form Bobo Win, Absolute Hedge, Baby Wave, Fortune Warrior, Tremendous Plus, Amityship and Implied Volatility are possible place chances.

In the middle leg, Something Special looks a standout. The five-year-old finished a close second over this course and distance in mid-October, then struck a difficult run over the 2,200m, before a rallying third last start behind Spinnaker at Sha Tin.

Olympicship has hit a purple patch of form with placings since being moved to the city course and should be in the firing line.

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Paul O'Sullivan may well have given jockey James Winks his going away present yesterday as debutant Spectacular Award kicked off an early double for the New Zealand trainer. Winks was released from his club jockey contract on Friday afternoon, with the Australian rider making the decision to take his leave after battling with his weight and a lack of proper opportunities.

He will finish next Sunday, taking with him the highlight of a surprise Group One win last season on John Moore's sprinter Dim Sum, but he took the parting chance from O'Sullivan on Spectacular Award at odds of better than 20-1 in what the trainer described as "a pleasant surprise".

"He's out of a mare whose career peaked at a distance of about 3,500m with 15 fences in front of her, so to see this horse win at 1,200m is a bit of a surprise. But I think he will be OK with time and as he gets over longer," O'Sullivan said. "It's really a 2,400m pedigree and as we often see, a horse here who can stay will probably do a bit better in this environment than you might otherwise expect."

The win for owner Wong Pak-lam turned back the clock for O'Sullivan as he was one of the first owners he met upon moving to Sha Tin.

"He's been here since day one - I trained Award for him and he was nearly the first horse in the stable, so it's nice to have another horse for Mr Wong that looks like he'll do all right," O'Sullivan said.

The trainer's second winner, Rain Of Thunder, turned up 30 minutes later and looked a horse transformed by his experiences - not all of them good - at Happy Valley recently.

"He's been crying to come back to the bigger track here," said jockey Douglas Whyte.

"But going to the Valley for those few runs has toughened him up and given him some race experience.

"He's been a bit wayward in his head, the penny has probably dropped with him a year later than it would with most horses, but he's won with some purpose today and I can see myself getting back on him when he goes to Class Four next time. I think he's ready for that now."

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Leading trainer David Hall showed he has plenty more ammunition in the can with his stable dominating yesterday's barrier trials at Sha Tin and suggesting he will soon be adding to his tally of 17 wins this season, reports the Racing Post in Hong Kong.

It says: Hall had two of the eight heat winners - Blaze King and Gallopy - but also sent out a number of stablemates who caught the eye as well.

Blaze King jumped straight to the lead, was tractable in the centre of the track and held the field with ease to claim the first heat (1,000m) in a sharp 58.7 seconds, cruising through a 23.3 for the final sectional.

The last-start winner may not be at flash odds when he steps out next, but you would rather be on him than against him over the short course.

Stablemate Gallopy was shaken up over the final 150m to win his 1,000m trial and recorded a final section of 23.6 seconds in an overall slower time of 59.9 seconds, but the lightly raced galloper will derive plenty of benefit from this effort.

High Point has yet to make his first appearance since being transferred to Hall, but he finished second behind Multiglory, and was another runner to follow. He raced behind the speed and made late headway between runners under a tight hold from jockey James Winks to complete the 1,000m heat in 59.40 seconds.

Hall's newcomer Fionn's Dragon was also impressive in the final heat over 1,050m on the all-weather track. The Stravinsky gelding was quickly into stride before being restrained to the rear of the field rounding the bend. Fionn's Dragon made late headway under his own steam, with Brett Prebble steering him in behind the leaders on the way to the post for sixth place.

His only start was over 1,000m at Happy Valley on November 18, when he was outpaced early before making minor late headway in the race won by Happee Gift.

Sean Wood's Derby prospect King Dancer was nicely held together in winning his heat over 1,600m in a time of 99.1 seconds.

From the HK Racing Post

For young jockey Nicholas Hall the Cathay Pacific International meeting is more than just a chance to compete overseas at a world-class event. The 22-year-old Australian rider - son of top jockey Greg Hall - spent a number of years living in Hong Kong as a child while his father rode successfully in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

But while he may not remember that early period of his life, something about his return to Sha Tin as a Group One-winning jockey feels right.

Not that he could have told you that then, or in fact, even five years ago.

"I had never touched a horse until I was 17," Hall said after guiding Australian sprint sensation All Silent through his gallop at Sha Tin trackwork yesterday. "I started riding in races when I was 18 and haven't looked back since."

Hall says that while he loved sport, he had never had the desire to follow his father into racing until his late teenage years.

"I was living at boarding school and I loved sport," Hall said. "But then the rest of the boys started getting bigger than me, so I was getting out-muscled in most contact sports.

"I wanted to compete, and riding seemed the obvious choice given Dad's background and my build."

And compete he has. Hall was crowned champion Melbourne apprentice and now sits second on the Victorian jockeys' ladder.

But more importantly, he chalked up his first Group One win aboard Melbourne Cup winner Efficient in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last month, before adding another just a week later on All Silent in the Patinack Farm Classic.

"All Silent is the most explosive horse I have ridden," Hall said. "I am not bothered about the other Australian sprinters, because I believe he has them covered.

"It is a little harder to line up the form for the international horses, but I think this horse will be very hard to beat."

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Aussie star All Silent is clinging to early favoritism for Sunday's big Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in HK, according to the latest market from Betstar.com.au. It has All Silent at $4.00 with local speedster Sacred Kingdom at $4.40. The market:

All Silent (AUS) 4.00
Sacred Kingdom (HK) 4.40
Scenic Blast (AUS) 6.50
Apache Cat (AUS) 8.50
California Flag (USA) 13.00
Laurel Guerreiro (JPN) 17.00
Total Gallery (GB) 17.00
Cannonball (USA) 21.00
Inspiration (HK) 21.00
War Artist (GB) 21.00
Borderlescott (GB) 26.00
One World (HK) 26.00
Green Birdie (HK) 41.00
Joy And Fun (HK) 41.00

French rider Christophe Lemaire has been posted as the favourite to win tomorrow night's Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley and avenge his narrow defeat at the hands of Douglas Whyte in 2008. With the Jockey Challenge for the night given over to just the three events of the IJC, oddsmakers were out early with a betting market and Lemaire found favour as the 5.0 favourite ahead of Ireland's Johnny Murtagh (5.50). Three-time winner Whyte, star apprentice Matthew Chadwick and another past winner, Andreas Suborics, were all at 6.00.

Lemaire comes fresh from a seventh placing in the Super Jockey series in Hanshin, Japan, where he also earned a careless riding suspension which has placed his participation tomorrow night in jeopardy.

At yesterday's random draw, Lemaire came up with in-form Bobo Win (race three), the best of his mounts, Grand General (race five) and Caspar Fownes-trained Achilles Of Troy (race seven).

Chadwick is sure to have support to upset his more experienced rivals in the series after drawing three worthwhile partners, including Lasker in the seventh race where the John Size-trained gelding has finally drawn a good barrier after tough runs from wide gates lately.

Canadian Chantal Sutherland was a 13.0 chance in the opening market but drew at least one realistic chance of winning a leg of the series, with John Moore-trained Champion Lad her final ride in race seven. (www.racing.scmp.com)

Most trainers are happy when they chalk up a treble - but Me Tsui Yu-sak was less than pleased with his apprentice - despite a winning ride at Sha Tin yesterday, reports the Hk Racing Post.

It adds: Apprentice Kevin Leung Ka-wai was reprimanded by his master for saluting too quickly after winning the final race.

"Simply the 10-pound claim helped the horse win, but I have reminded the boy not to stand up too soon when he is in a tight finish like that," Tsui said.

Leung was quick to salute the grandstand after driving Mighty Sun to a neck victory in a hard-fought finish over Needles And Thread.

The result evened the score on the pair's previous meeting, where Needles And Thread prevailed after Keith Yeung Ming-lun dropped his whip aboard Mighty Sun.

Yesterday's deserved win helped Tsui leap-frog up the trainers' premiership board, completing the three-timer.

Tsui had recorded eight wins prior to the meeting and added to the tally with wins from My Whisky, Grand Store and Mighty Sun in a highly successful day for the stable.

My Whisky carried the big money and a big weight to score a decisive victory in the second race.

He started as a short-priced favourite at $17 and gave backers no cause for concern with a dominant front-running performance. (www.racing.scmp.com).

Century Super Star has provided trainer Andreas Schutz with half of his four winners this season and is perfectly drawn for a three-peat in the final leg of this Sunday's juicy Triple Trio, which is estimated to reach HK$46 million, says Philip Woo in HK Racing Post.

He adds: Dirt-freak Century Super Star has won three times and has placed on four other occasions from nine starts, with punter confidence further lifted when he draws gate four or better with three wins, a second and a third from as many runs.

Regular rider Eddie Lai Wai-ming has charted a similar path to victory in Century Super Star's two course-and-distance wins this term. From gate two on September 20 and from gate three on November 4, the son of Last Tycoon sat quietly in midfield before launching his winning bid.

Lai will have him nicely tucked away from gate one and, after a similar preparation to his opening two wins - a nice blow-out before raceday - the eight-year-old remains a logical banker, despite a six-point rise in the ratings and a 127-pound weight assignment.

Mutual Friendship was fifth best when resuming behind Century Super Star, but has since produced a wicked turn of foot to produce consecutive dirt wins. He can be forgiven for his latest run on turf and is the main danger back to the all-weather surface.

Winner Smart, Global Win, Magic Temple, Trulli, Har Har Charms and Thunder Dancing appear to be the chief opposition.

Sound Of Silence can kick things off in the opening leg. The nine-year-old does not have too many good runs left in him, but stayed on nicely to beat a near-similar group two starts back over this trip.

He could not repeat the dose next run over the 1,800m, but will relish the step back to the mile.

Brett Prebble took over the Happy Valley meeting last night and took his leave until international day with another winning treble to stretch his lead at the top of the jockeys' leaderboard.
He starts a two-day careless riding ban today, but left on the right note, dominating the city course and quickly settling the Jockey Challenge for the night.

Prebble opened with Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Secret Of Winning in the third and wound the three -timer up for the same yard with Go Lucky Go in the last, but it was the win by humble Class Fiver Kingston Temple, on his first outing for David Hall in the fourth, that had eyebrows raised.

Despite getting keen in the slowly-run affair, Kingston Temple simply rounded his rivals up on the final bend and raced away to score eased down by two and a half lengths over the 1,800m, after not having run for six months.

"He's been a surprise packet since I got him," said Hall. "He didn't show that much at first and he's got troubles with his legs, his back, all sorts of troubles. I could see he was going to be hard to work with, but after a while he started to get some condition on him and then we brought him here to trial and he went whoosh. That surprised me a bit but those Valley trials, early morning, you get a bit of ease in the going and I thought that might have flattered him a bit. Coming to the hard track tonight I didn't know it he'd be able to reproduce it, but he has and by the look of that, there might be another one in him."

Prebble's victory on Secret Of Winning also came as a mild surprise, to the rider, who said the gelding's work had not suggested he was flying.

"I guess he did tonight what we have always thought he could do, but after running some sharp sections early, I wasn't sure he could finish it off, but he was very solid tonight," Prebble said.

"As for Go Lucky Go, first time to the Valley he handled it well and relaxed over the extra trip...Nice workmanlike win."

The treble sent Prebble further ahead in the jockeys' championship, but reigning champion Douglas Whyte struck back one blow in the second to last event with David Ferrari-trained One Wee Acorn, the second leg of a double for the trainer.

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Jockey Brett Prebble's advice may prove to be spot-on in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase as Thumbs Up - wearing blinkers for the first time - indicated he is raring to go with a scintillating trial effort at Sha Tin yesterday. It was the Aussie rider who advised Danny Shum Chap-shing to consider adding blinkers after Thumbs Up finished fourth to Collection in the International Cup Trial on November 15, and the new headgear worked a treat as the five-year-old looked much sharper and found plenty in the final 300m to dish out a three-length beating to Vase rival Jackpot Delight.

Thumbs Up clocked 1.41.51 for the 1,600m turf heat, with the final quarter in an impressive 22.0. Despite looking keen, Thumbs Up settled back at the rear - some six lengths off leader Jackpot Delight - went widest turning in and, when Prebble asked for an effort, he opened up a big margin.

"He was a clear second just after the line but disappointed me just a little bit because he wasn't that comfortable when he had horses around him," Prebble said after the Cup Trial. "He was a bit reluctant to stretch out and we might have to look at the blinkers - that could be the ace up our sleeve on international day."

Trainer Tony Millard has three smart winners-in-waiting, with Hot Asset, Supreme Taiji and Amedeo all showing their readiness with strong turf trials last Wednesday.

Hot Asset and Supreme Taiji kept on well to quinella the third trial (800m), while Amedeo showed plenty of speed to win his heat. (www.racing.scmp.com)

Penglai Xianzi's barnstorming burst in the straight to win last Friday's 1,200m all-weather track barrier trial at Sha Tin indicated all is well with him and he will return a better horse. The three-year-old colt by Encosta de Lago, prepared by Tony Cruz, went back to the trials after his mediocre performance last start over 1,400m behind Algarve.

He sat behind Baby Wave and Gaucho until heads were turned for home and then kicked away to score by 2 1/4 lengths under the guidance of Matthew Chadwick. It was serious work from the youngster, with the last quarter being covered in 23.6 seconds (1.11.55).

The top apprentice asked nothing of the horse in the early part, but when Chadwick pushed the button at the 300m he shot off like a rocket.

Penglai Xianzi was used up early in his first campaign, but his brilliant win when resuming showed he is best when switched off in his races and using his good turn of foot when it counts most.

So when he returns to competition, he will prove a handful, judging from his latest trial workout.

A three-quarter brother to the stakes-performed Sydney galloper Glowlamp, Penglai Xianzi is from group-performed Danehill mare Isle of Gibraltar. He cost A$300,000 (HK$2.1 million) at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. And he was bought by Benson Lee for HK$3 million at the International Sales.

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Things are only going to get tighter in the jockeys' room with the arrivals of North American Aaron Gryder and Frenchman Johan Victoire this week, and Christophe Soumillon and Andreas Suborics in the not too distant future, and we aren't just talking about where they sit. Everyone across the board - well, the top of the board especially - might have to be happy with a lower win tally this season.

As noted a week ago in a story on Douglas Whyte's unusually slow start to the term, the leader on the championship table at that stage has generally had 20 or more winners on the board already by meeting 16. Brett Prebble hit 20 wins with Sunday's treble at meeting number 18, and it may be that the century - which has become the accepted benchmark for the championship winner during Whyte's long succession of titles - might only be achieved this season due to the extra five meetings, if at all.

Dubai World Cup winner Gryder told the Daily Racing Form he was hopeful of extending his four-month licence until the end of the season, and whether Sean Woods and Victoire look to extend their partnership longer than the three-month retainer will doubtless depend on results.

But with an extra four senior jockeys here at the start of the new year and the claiming apprentices getting so much air time, it is going to be an even tougher fight for the better rides.

Gryder's invitation is another indication the Jockey Club is attempting to reopen communications with North America. Jockeys from the US have been virtually non-existent for well over a decade. The club will be hoping Gryder has some luck to help build a bridge to others, but it seems an impossible task with riders there earning much more than they could ever hope to get out of Hong Kong.

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From Racing Post HK

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A photo-finish in the final race was the difference that saw Brett Prebble hold sway in the Jockey Challenge at Happy Valley last night but the story of the night was the return to form of star apprentice Matthew Chadwick. Chadwick had notched up 47 straight losing rides going into last night's fixture but bounced back with a treble as he and Prebble sliced the programme up between them and left little for anyone else.

"Matthew's got his head screwed on properly again and I'm sure he'll get the ball rolling now," said Tony Cruz, to whom Chadwick is apprenticed. "He just needed to get his confidence back and this night will do him the world of good."

Chadwick drew first blood with Topping Light for Caspar Fownes in the second before adding Cruz's Bullish Win in the sixth and Supernova for David Ferraris in the night's featured Wayfoong Centenary Bowl, 1,650m.

"It changes so quickly. One minute he had no confidence, the next he's full of confidence again and it makes such a huge difference," said Ferraris, who had been a little surprised to see Supernova somewhat closer in the run last night. "I said to Matthew to take the horse back as usual, let him find a spot where he's comfortable, but after the race he told me the horse began well enough to be where he was so he left him there and got cover and it worked. Supernova had been promoted out of Class Four without winning but I just looked at this race tonight and thought with five pounds off he had to be a great chance."

Prebble also landed a three-timer aboard Victory Mascot and Nugget Warrior for Fownes, sandwiching Electronic Master for Manfred Man Ka-leung in between them, but the night soured when he copped a 2-day careless riding ban for his effort in the sixth on Happy Ambassador. The Australian went into the final event just trailing Chadwick in the Jockey Challenge, but fortunes swung on the narrow margin between Nugget Warrior and True Intelligence and the camera came down Prebble's way to give trainer Fownes a three-timer as well. "I can't tell you how happy I am to win with this horse," Fownes said of Nugget warrior.

"When he first got here last year, he was all ready to go to the races and he tore a muscle just above his hock. A really unusual injury but it really set him back. It has been a long road but he's been getting better each run and I'm rapt to win with him."

Weather fine, track Prebble - they've been the conditions for racing at the past two meetings, but top apprentice Matthew Chadwick gets a chance to strike at Happy Valley tonight at better odds. Prebble has had seven wins in the past week and was posted favourite with his terrific book again but, as those who chewed their fingernails through his unbeatable set of rides on Sunday to finally collect will know, short odds in the Jockey Challenge doesn't guarantee an easy path.

Prebble was 2.15 before getting out to 2.25 in early moves last night on the Challenge, while Olivier Doleuze, Douglas Whyte and Chadwick went up at 7.0 before early shoppers snipped the star apprentice back to 6.0.

And he still looks a good value proposition, despite having only six mounts.

Chadwick is enduring by far his longest run of outs, with 47 rides since his last win on Hannah King Prawn just prior to that fall from Gallant Champion.

But he has been in the minor placings eight times in those 47 runners, and it is fair to say that the quality of his mounts has often recently been below the standard he had been getting.

He opens with the Caspar Fownes-trained Topping Light (race two), a smart winner on debut, before jumping on Perfect Fit (race three), who was well beaten by Fownes' horse at Sha Tin last start, but had an excuse after being checked out of the race at the start.

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From Racing Post HK

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It might not have been the all-conquering afternoon that Brett Prebble had in mind yesterday, but the Australian carried on his winning streak from midweek to bag a treble at Sha Tin.
Prebble looked capable of winning five or six on paper after snaring four at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, but has managed to open a small gap at the head of the jockeys' table after having to make do with three.

"I'm happy - I've gone to the races plenty of times with even better books than that and come away without a winner, so there's no way I'm not happy with three," said Prebble after landing promising Morning Green and Algarve for David Hall and Fat Choy Ichiban for Dennis Yip Chor-hong to go to 20 wins and a break of five over suspended seven-pound claimer Keith Yeung Ming-lun.

Hall has also been in sparkling form and moved into second place behind John Moore in the trainers' race after two impressive, but nevertheless different efforts from his pair of Encosta De Lago youngsters.

"Algarve is just a beautiful racehorse. I know he gives Brett a great feeling riding him, but as a trainer watching from the stand you get a great feeling with this horse, too," he said after the four-year-old had come from last to justify his short odds in the final event.

"He's so relaxed and has a great turn of foot. Sure, it isn't the greatest attribute getting out of his ground the way he has been, he can't make his own luck like a front runner, but he is so push button.

"As he goes further, I hope he can draw a better gate and be a bit closer, but I like him, he's a progressive horse."