A fly weight and the prospect of a sizzling pace look the factors to make the John Moore-trained Elegance Desire the one to beat in the annual Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1,400m) at Sha Tin today. The all time score sits at seven-all and the Taipa team this time looks stronger on paper than it has often been in the past.But Hong Kong's Elegance Desire (Eddie Lai Wai-ming) looks the weight horse of the race with 113 pounds to carry and every likelihood the race will be run to suit his strong finishin

A fly weight and the prospect of a sizzling pace look the factors to make the John Moore-trained Elegance Desire the one to beat in the annual Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1,400m) at Sha Tin today. The all time score sits at seven-all and the Taipa team this time looks stronger on paper than it has often been in the past.

But Hong Kong's Elegance Desire (Eddie Lai Wai-ming) looks the weight horse of the race with 113 pounds to carry and every likelihood the race will be run to suit his strong finishing style.

Moore's only previous win in the race came with Tiber, who needed a positive swab returned by first past the post Crown's Master to claim the prize.

Stable rider Darren Beadman is aboard Final Answer, a distance query at 1,400m despite some good form, but his quotes after the barrier draw indicated the Australian would have jumped at the chance to be on Elegance Desire if he had been able to make the weight.

Racing in Macau tends to be more speed oriented than here, and the likes of Happy Gladiator, Tron Kingdom and The Lucky Steed will take prominent positions, but they will all have their work cut out leading Hong Kong's fastest horse, Romantic City.

Stepping to 1,400m for the first time is a question mark for Romantic City and, although he settled better in front at Happy Valley last time out, this race looks a tough way to find out if he runs it.

The race sets up for a horse hitting the line and that should be Elegance Desire, who is yet to miss a place over the course and distance and comes with solid form at 1,200m and from last week's third to Rich Unicorn.

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