 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |  |  |
Courier Wonder and Fantastic Treasure have set a high standard for this season’s emerging 3YO crop in Hong Kong and the unbeaten Winner Method will attempt to enhance his growing reputation by joining his talented cohorts as winners of their first four outings.
Having collected a trio of triumphs the Deep Field gelding will look to continue his advance when he faces eight opponents, including fellow 3YO, Carroll Street, a two-time winner from three starts in the Gr.3 Grass Island Handicap.
Gearing up for Sha Tin’s first turf race run at night since October 2014, the Australian-bred bay and earner of HK$2.28 million will again be paired with Zac Purton and the duo will depart from gate five with top weight allotted as the race’s highest rater.
The youngster’s most recent win came in a slick 55.24s over 1000m by a length and a quarter at the end of March, although he did require a few shakes from Purton mid-race.
Tomorrow night’s first of two turf races also features Perfect Glory, Metro Warrior, Utopia Life, Euromissile, Flying High, Eight Trigrams and Resolute.
Hong Kong’s solid group of emerging 3YO this season also features Fantastic Way, Killer Bee, Ka Ying Spirit and Hurry Hurry Gain as well as Trader, a debut victor for trainer David Hayes who features in tomorrow evening’s finale, the Class 3 Kat O Handicap (1200m, dirt).
The Unencumbered gelding is looking to bounce back after finishing a distant eighth at the end of last month following an impressive first-up success.
The Tony Millard-trainee arrived in Hong Kong as a two-time winner in Australia and placed at Gr.3 level as a three-year-old in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield Racecourse. Since his arrival, he has raced twice, finishing 14th and third.