The Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup pits leading jockeys Douglas Whyte and Zac Purton head to head today at Sha Tin and Whyte looks to have the edge on Seasons Star. The Tony Cruz-trained Seasons Star and the Caspar Fownes-trained Windicator Star (Purton) stand out from their rivals in the 1,000m dash up the straight course, and a weight pull of 12 pounds and a better record over the course can see the younger horse home first. Seasons Star certainly didn't look anything special in his early trial

The Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup pits leading jockeys Douglas Whyte and Zac Purton head to head today at Sha Tin and Whyte looks to have the edge on Seasons Star.

The Tony Cruz-trained Seasons Star and the Caspar Fownes-trained Windicator Star (Purton) stand out from their rivals in the 1,000m dash up the straight course, and a weight pull of 12 pounds and a better record over the course can see the younger horse home first.

Seasons Star certainly didn't look anything special in his early trials or even in winning his debut up the straight in October - as his 19-1 odds indicated - but two subsequent performances at Happy Valley with wide gates against him earmarked him as a horse with a nice future.

Overlook his failure as favourite over 1,200m last time at Sha Tin because the three-year-old was caught off the track in his first attempt at the trip and was unable to finish it off as a result.

Back to 1,000m, he has the right draw towards the outside rail, and has been able to lead and win at this course and come from near last at the Valley, so he is tactically versatile and that gives him another advantage over his rival.

He has three slower beginners outside him and should have the speed to cross to the outside rail early, where Whyte can assess the situation.
The regular speed horses engaged are Xi Ying Men, drawn immediately inside Seasons Star, and Hawthorne and newcomer Precision King away over in the centre of the track in gates two and one, so there may not be a great deal of pressure on the lead and every reason for Whyte even to hold the front.

Windicator Star meanwhile will, even in his best scenario, be a length or three further back and tagging the leaders up the outside rail.

www.racing.scmp.com