Trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong's ability to keep squeezing one more success from his winners this season is why he is still leading the championship and Metallic Star could be yet another in the Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (1,200m) tonight.
Just when his horses look like they have peaked, Yip has been getting another win and horses like Why Not, Dars Auto and K-Moochi have been big contributors to his season.
Now Metallic Star (Alvin Ng Ka-chun) gets his chance to join the list if he can make it three for the season in the trophy event.
A big win at Sha Tin three runs back over 1,400m has been followed by a fifth there and a fourth over this trip which were sound enough from wide draws, but did have "on his mark" written all over them.
In other words, he can still win his way out of Class Three but he just looks in a place where it all needs to fall the right way for him and that hasn't been the case in his last two.
From gate 14 two starts back, Zac Purton got him over into a good, handy trailing spot but Metallic Star didn't have left what he needed to outrun the leaders down the straight.
Again drawn out last time, Metallic Star was outsped early and had to settle towards the rear, wide with cover, then finished his race off in worthwhile fashion for fourth and two lengths off Perfect Finish.
The move to a better middle draw may prove enough of a difference if Ng can have him better positioned in midfield as a result, that length or two closer to the front end when the serious business starts.
www.racing.scmp.com