From RACING POST HKPeter Ng Bik-kuen's Super Plus is reaching the end of his tether at the top of Class Three, but has found the right race to make it three straight wins in the grade and can act as a banker in the middle pin of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at Happy Valley. At the age of 64, Ng is having a vintage season with 15 wins and Super Plus has been one of his stars. The seven-year-old has risen 14 rating points, taking him to a mark of 77 and the pointy end of Class Three.The 71 he won
From RACING POST HK
Peter Ng Bik-kuen's Super Plus is reaching the end of his tether at the top of Class Three, but has found the right race to make it three straight wins in the grade and can act as a banker in the middle pin of tomorrow night's Triple Trio at Happy Valley. At the age of 64, Ng is having a vintage season with 15 wins and Super Plus has been one of his stars. The seven-year-old has risen 14 rating points, taking him to a mark of 77 and the pointy end of Class Three.
The 71 he won off last start was already a career-high handicap, so you could expect Super Plus to meet his match soon - especially given his 40-plus starts, which indicates a limited upside. But he finds a bottom-heavy race with nine of the 12 runners rated 70 or below, gets a nice draw (five) and Ben So Tik-hung's five-pound claim takes the pressure off a little, with the seven-year-old to carry a more comfortable 128 pounds. The pace should be genuine which should suit So from that draw.
Next to consider is one of this season's best trial performers, Keen Marie, a four-year-old Private Purchase from the Me Tsui Yu-sak yard.
By Falkirk, who is proving to be a "Hong Kong sire" - with progeny like Fay Fay, Best City and Solar Great - Keen Marie starts his career off 67.
After a three-start New Zealand career for a single win, Keen Marie has made a solid impression in three trials on all three surfaces, including an important effort over this course and distance.
The four-year-old has matched motors with winners Straight Gold, Go Baby Go and Oriental Prosper at the trials, making a favourable impression each time. Gate nine is a tough starting position for Mark du Plessis, but he goes in regardless.
The Tony Cruz-trained Xilai Xianzi (Maxime Guyon) is improving and could easily figure, as should Elusive Prince (Tye Angland), despite drawing 10.
Happy Yeah Yeah (Keith Yeng Ming-lun) continued his run of good draws, with barrier one making him a place chance.
The opening leg of a TT bolstered by a HK$4,475,363 jackpot is a Class Four (1,650m), another race where pressure up front could play into the hands of some sit-sprint types.
Two that can race handy but still bounce off a solid tempo are Viva Guy (So) and Snitzel Kid (Angland), and both have drawn perfectly in three and four respectively. (www.racing.scmp.com)