John Size clung grimly to his three-win advantage in the trainers' championship last night, grinding out a double in response to a pair from Caspar Fownes as the two men edged clear of their rivals, reports HK Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com).
Fownes was the most dangerous on a night, which could easily have produced more than two winners as he finished second in another three races.
But Hurry Hurry Up (Olivier Doleuze) and Gun Pit (Tommy Berry) were the only ones with their heads in front on the line where it counted.
Size sent out just four runners, but was able to score with former English galloper Comeback Kid (Karis Teetan) on debut before head-case Master Sommelier responded to the touch of Joao Moreira to break his duck.
"I'm pleased to have given John another winner - this looks like a real battle down to the finish for the trainers' title," said Moreira after his first experience of Master Sommelier.
"Gee, he's a hard ride. He really doesn't help you at all, he pulls and runs sideways. I don't know what would have happened tonight if I had not been able to get to the lead on him and get across. If he's outside other horses, he looks a real handful."
That took Size to 56 wins and Fownes to 53, with another four away to Tony Cruz. And Fownes looked set to claw another back in the final race when Formula Won loomed to win, but found Eagle Power (Doleuze) too strong.
"The ride that Zac Purton's given Formula Won from barrier 13, he really deserved to win - that was the ride of the night. But the winner is a very good horse on this surface and just found enough," said Fownes, who is looking forward to the horse that three-year-old Gun Pit will become next season.
"I was never worried about him going to the dirt, he'll handle anything and he's a very progressive horse.
"He's quite a good sized horse, but still just a frame at this stage and he's going to develop and fill that frame through the summer break.