The John Size-trained Turbo Jewellery has the form, the draw
The John Size-trained Turbo Jewellery has the form, the draw and, just as importantly, the type of opposition he needs at Happy Valley tonight to make it three wins on end in the France Galop Cup (1,800m), reports Racing Post HK.
On a night with a Le French May theme, Turbo Jewellery (Douglas Whyte) is the only French-bred in the Class Two feature. That won't, in itself, make him the winner but he stands out as the form runner after not finding himself left out in the fresh air too soon in his latest efforts.
The five-year-old was, unfairly, attracting a non-winner tag during much of the season, looking to have several races in his keeping before being run down late.
But Size pointed out, after arresting the situation by dropping the gelding back in distance to win at Sha Tin in April, that it was less about Turbo Jewellery's determination than about timing. In slowly run middle-distance races, the horse's tactical ability to sit forward worked against him, with him taking the lead 300m from the post.
In the 1,600m race, the faster tempo meant he was off the pace and running at the leaders when it counted in the final 200m, rather than being the target in front, and that was the case again last time when he went back up in trip to 1,800m.
He had a strong regulation leader in Shiny Day (Ben So Tik-hung) to sit off and chase and the engagement of Shiny Day and another regular leader, Albiceleste, should ensure Turbo Jewellery has pace to sit behind and run at again.