Andreas Suborics has ridden just two winners for Caspar Fownes but the undisputed king of Happy Valley has turned to the Austrian rider in the Chak On Handicap (1,200m) as he attempts to strike while the iron is hot with Imperial Champion, reports HK Racing Post.
Brett Prebble was aboard when Imperial Champion broke through for a long overdue first local victory last week at the Valley, but the decision to back up the sprinter so quickly probably caught Fownes' usual riders, Prebble, Zac Purton or Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, on the hop.
Suborics' two victories for Fownes were in trophy events - the Group Three Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup this week a year ago and a Class Three cup on Quaternion Eagle earlier this season - and Fownes has placed his trust in the jockey tonight in another pinch.
Every win really counts right now as Fownes attempts to retain his champion trainer title in a tight fight with John Moore and John Size and the key wins can come from the most unlikely sources. Last year it was Class Five iron horse Flying Keeper who made the difference for Fownes so a more talented runner like Imperial Champion, who has just taken time to live up to his reputation, is hardly a stretch if he has now turned the corner.
He is back up to Class Two from his Class Three win a week ago and up to 1,200m but he gets a weight drop for the first and the second is not a concern as it took Group One star Peniaphobia to beat him over this course earlier in the term.