John Moore's boom horse, Happy Zero, returned from his summer break in Sunday's Sha Tin Sprint Trophy with a last-to-first win and a message for the established top sprinters that there is a new kid on the block. While many expected Happy Zero (Weichong Marwing) to return with a victory and he was heavily supported in betting, most if not all of his backers would have gladly taken their money back at the 400m when the Danzero five-year-old was last and under pressure in the high-speed contest.Th

John Moore's boom horse, Happy Zero, returned from his summer break in Sunday's Sha Tin Sprint Trophy with a last-to-first win and a message for the established top sprinters that there is a new kid on the block.

While many expected Happy Zero (Weichong Marwing) to return with a victory and he was heavily supported in betting, most if not all of his backers would have gladly taken their money back at the 400m when the Danzero five-year-old was last and under pressure in the high-speed contest.

The only man who wasn't concerned was Marwing.

"I always anticipated he would be off the bit in this race. He had only run at 1,000m once last season - at his first start - then John stepped him up to 1,200, then 1,400m and he was strong at those distances," he said.

"So in his second season, 1,000m was always going to be on the short side, especially with so much speed in the race. I kind of expected they would get him off his feet. At the 400m I was niggling and niggling and I had a look up and saw he was three or four lengths off them and I wasn't worried. I knew once I got serious that he could make it up quickly."

Now the winner of six of his seven starts, Happy Zero still did a few things wrong but his finishing sprint after lurching towards the inside of the course at the 300m was devastating as he swept home from stablemate One World and Brilliant Chapter, the pair who had been his company at the rear of the pack for most of the race.

"Friendly Gains or something inside or outside him made a movement and Happy Zero shied away and overreacted," Marwing said. "He took himself across to the inside but once they're galloping like that in the clear and enjoying it, you don't want to correct them if there's nobody else there and they have full momentum. Overall, he's a lovely ride - I don't like to set high tables for horses but I think he'll do Hong Kong proud. He can only get better." (www.racing.scmp.com)