The bookmakers may have written off the chances of comeback galloper Good Ba Ba in Tuesday's Standish Handicap (1200m) but trainer Rick Hore-Lacy won't be surprised by a bold first-up showing from the former Hong Kong champion.Good Ba Ba, a seven time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, will make his Australian debut down the Flemington straight in the $150,000 Group 3 New Year's Day feature.A winner of more than $9million, the now 11-year-old has not been seen on the racetrack since April 2011 but has
The bookmakers may have written off the chances of comeback galloper Good Ba Ba in Tuesday's Standish Handicap (1200m) but trainer Rick Hore-Lacy won't be surprised by a bold first-up showing from the former Hong Kong champion.
Good Ba Ba, a seven time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, will make his Australian debut down the Flemington straight in the $150,000 Group 3 New Year's Day feature.
A winner of more than $9million, the now 11-year-old has not been seen on the racetrack since April 2011 but has impressed in two recent Australian trials, including a soft five length win at Cranbourne earlier this month.
While Hore-Lacy is placing no lofty expectations on the veteran's return campaign, he cannot fault his progress since entering his Caulfield stable.
"I don't know that he can win over the shorter trip and I think I saw a market where he is fifteen dollars so the bookies obviously don't think he can so we're just hopeful," Hore-Lacy told RSN.
"He is 11-years-old but he is in very good order."
"It wouldn't be a hiding to nothing because if he happened to win I'd be kicking goals everywhere."
While some have questioned whether a failed return to racing could tarnish the reputation of one of the modern day greats, Hore-Lacy admitted it would've been hard for the owners to resist a return to racing.
"If you've got a really good horse and he retires sound I can understand an owner wanting to have another go," Hore-Lacy said.
"It would be wonderful for the owner (John Yuen) and for (Macau trainer) Gary Moore who put the horse with me."
"The owners decided that it would be better to give the horse to a smaller trainer where he might get a bit more personal attention and they wanted to give the horse to somebody who had a bit of a track record having done it big races."
Good Ba Ba ($15 TAB Sportsbet) will jump from barrier 15 with jockey Noel Callow aboard and will have to contend with defending champion and race favourite Catapulted ($2.30), Danny O'Brien's Adamantium ($5.50), South Australian speedster Outlandish Lad ($10) and classy mare Bonnie Mac ($12) among his leading rivals.
The Standish Handicap is Race 6 on a class-filled eight race card that also features the $150,000 Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) for the stayers.