Excel Oneself gave a great advert for himself as a Class Three prospect seven days ago and now looks the one to beat tonight in the Hong Kong Club Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Happy Valley.
It's quite some time since Excel Oneself (Karis Teetan) looked a horse with a decent future in his early trials and he took a long time to bring something more than raw speed to his races, but he has got stronger with experience and looks a genuine Class Three player.
The Me Tsui Yu-sak-trained four-year-old comes back to the distance where he flashed home for second to Ocean Roar in Class Four just over a month ago under topweight, but his seventh over 1,200m last week to All Great Friends was just as good a recommendation.
Having his first outing in Class Three, Excel Oneself was never on the track from an awkward barrier draw but still had the audacity to dash clear of his rivals at the top of the straight.
The tough run kicked in over the final stages of the race and Excel Oneself tired to be beaten three lengths but it was a performance that removed any doubt whether he would prove up to the job in this grade.
Tonight for Karis Teetan, Excel Oneself gets a better draw in three and the opportunity to camp on the back of a decent speed set by speedsters like Triumphant Jewel, Fun 'N' Games, Winfull Patrol (Douglas Whyte) and Fantastico (Joao Moreira) and should be the lightweight pouncing at the 250m.
Lucky Celebrity (Brett Prebble) looks the danger from the in-form Chris So Wai-yin stable, finally getting himself away from the treacherous straight course at Sha Tin, where he has performed well but without the best of luck.
Despite a wider draw, he can take a sit in midfield with all the speed on up front and, if he hits the line like he did finishing second to Lovely Delovely two runs back, he should be right there. (www.racing.scmp.com)