Danny Shum Chap-shing's speedy type Charity Joy has returned a more mature horse this season and can make it back-to-back wins in the final leg of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at Happy Valley, reports Michael Cox in the HK Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com).
Charity Joy had only won an 880-metre affair in New Zealand when thrown in the deep end for two starts as a two-year-old towards the end of last season, finishing ninth and seventh. After turning three, and with an off-season ratings drop to 64, Charity Joy drew badly at his first two starts before overcoming another wide gate when breaking through at his fifth start just over a month ago.
He didn't do it the easy way, Joao Moreira chasing the son of Not A Single Doubt along from gate nine to try to take up the running, only to be held out by Eastern Promise.
Despite never getting a real breather as he faced the breeze outside the leader, Charity Joy was tough enough to hold off Braveness. Back to the same 1,000m trip, Charity Joy gets gate five and should be able to find the rail this time with top hoop Ryan Moore drawing the ride.
The TT races represent the first three legs of the Longines International Jockeys' Championship and with riders on unfamiliar mounts, speed maps can often be torn up and thrown in the bin as jockeys do as they wish.
Moore won't be left in any doubt about Charity Joy's best attribute when it comes to pre-race instructions: he will be sent straight to the front and it will be catch-me-if-you-can from there.
American Mike Smith is drawn to ride Highest Acclaim, a horse perfectly suited to the IJC races because of his tactical versatility. He is racing consistently and competitive in this grade, so should be included.
Speedy Sandy should run well for Douglas Whyte, while Bundle Of Joy (Suguru Hamanaka) and well-drawn last-start winner Fun 'N' Games (Mirco Demuro) are the other hopes.
In the opening leg, a Class Four over 1,650m, Expedite (Smith) is the best banker, steppingup to a trip that suits.
Also take Young Talent (Demuro) despite needing some luck from another bad draw, Winning Mascot(Hamanaka) and Redwood Baby (Moore), who got home well on debut.