Dan Excel might not be considered the first choice from the John Moore stable
From Racing Post HK
Dan Excel might not be considered the first choice from the John Moore stable in today's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin, but the race presents this very honest galloper with a real chance to take out a big race.
Moore is four-handed in the event he has won three times in the last seven runnings and has nominatedXtension (Zac Purton) as the stable choice as he begins to regain his form and confidence heading towards the Champions Mile, but Dan Excel will give him at least a run for his money with the five-pound allowance for non-Group One winners.
Dan Excel (Douglas Whyte) has only won once here, a Class One over this trip last July, but he has never been too far away, evidenced by his record of one win and nine first four finishes from 14 starts, and he has taken himself the hard way from a rating of 89 to 120.
Included in those honourable defeats are a fourth in the Hong Kong Cup, and second to Glorious Days in the Stewards' Cup, both at Group One level and the latter over this distance, where he seems to be as well suited as any.
He looked just a touch keen in the slowly run Gold Cup last time out after being arguably unlucky over 1,800m prior.
Key to this race is Dan Excel's tactical versatility. He has been ridden back and run well and ridden forward and run well, and as there is no obvious running order in this race, a forward position might be the preferred option.