Backers of the Richard Gibson-trainedGreat Charm have suffered some frustrations lately, but the Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association Cup (1,400m) looks the right place...
Backers of the Richard Gibson-trainedGreat Charm have suffered some frustrations lately, but the Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association Cup (1,400m) looks the right place to get the three-year-old's career back on track at Sha Tin, reports Racing Post HK.
A debut second to another smart three-year-old Bullish Friend was followed with a very solid win, both over 1,200m, before the rot set in when Great Charm (Olivier Doleuze) stepped up in trip.
He was possibly a touch too keen leading at 1,400m two runs ago when he was run over in the final 200m by Metallic Star and Berlinsky, then Great Charm got keen again in a slow tempo when taken back from a wide draw over 1,650m at Happy Valley.
The problems had much to do with awkward barrier draws in those two outings, which dictated the tactics used, but Great Charm begins from gate five and will allow Doleuze to park him off the leaders but within touch.
As for the pace, this doesn't look overly quick again, but Supreme Genki (Matthew Chadwick) is a committed leader and it gets down to a case of whether the opposition will allow him to stroll in front.
Fujian Spirit has blinkers back on, Dragon Glory and Ready To Celebrate have shown some speed and one or more of them might contribute to the tempo but it is by no means a given.
An even tempo would be the ideal for Great Charm, who appears to want the pace "just so" at this stage of his career while he is learning his trade - not too fast or slow - so dropping back in distance looks a better move.
He looks a useful talent of the future and the youngster only has to drop his head and relax and he should prove too strong at the finish.
The most obvious dangers to Great Charm look to be the well-explored Plentiful (Brett Prebble) and another youngster on the rise, Exciting Dream (Weichong Marwing).