The John Size-trained Glorious Days is showing all the signs of going to the top of the tree and the Midland Holdings Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin today should offer one more guide to just how good the four-year-old might turn out. A soft winner in New Zealand at his only run, Glorious Days (Douglas Whyte) has scored just as cosily in his two starts in Hong Kong over this course and distance. He was never out of first gear winning first-up in Class Three but, without setting any records both in his
The John Size-trained Glorious Days is showing all the signs of going to the top of the tree and the Midland Holdings Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin today should offer one more guide to just how good the four-year-old might turn out. A soft winner in New Zealand at his only run, Glorious Days (Douglas Whyte) has scored just as cosily in his two starts in Hong Kong over this course and distance.
He was never out of first gear winning first-up in Class Three but, without setting any records both in his time or his sectionals, but it was clear there was a lot more there if required.
We got more of a look at that in his latest assignment, this time under a big weight and opposed to a smart horse in Time After Time, but Glorious Days again displayed a high-cruising speed and this time was able to marry a solid run time with a strong sectional and handled Time After Time comfortably.
The handicapper has not missed his wins, lifting him 27 points in those two victories and already Glorious Days finds himself getting towards the top of Class Two, where the tests get tougher under weight.
But everything about Glorious Days has the look of a future Group One horse and, from his handy draw, Whyte should have him in the run of the race again.
It all points to another victory, especially as his main opponent again looks to be Time After Time (Darren Beadman).
The John Moore-trained gelding had some issues with overracing last season, but has been better-mannered with more experience this campaign.
He settled well last time in his only attempt at this distance, tracking Glorious Days through the race, then putting it to him at the 250m.
Glorious Days answered every demand and shrugged off the challenge to move clear again by almost two lengths, while Time After Time was able to draw well clear of the rest.
Time After Time gets a weight turnaround on the winner of 11 pounds and, under some circumstances, that might have been enough to have some confidence he could turn around the result as well. But with the favourite drawn low again and Time After Time going from gate five to gate 14, that weight change is negated to some extent.
There doesn't look a great deal of speed, so Beadman is going to have a job to get Time After Time in and settled, while Whyte will have all the favours.
fropm RACING POST in Hong Kong (www.racing.scmp.com)
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