Trainer Richard Gibson missed out in the Derby on Sunday but his underrated Wayfoong Express gets a chance to give him a consolation in the wide open feature at Happy Valley tonight, the Indian Recreation Club Challenge Cup (1,800m), reports Racing Post HK.
The Class Two trophy race brings together an interesting mix of runners from different paths, many of them in up and down mode lately, but Gibson's Derby runner-up Got Fly provides some substance to the form of the consistent Wayfoong Express (Brett Prebble).
Last time out, Wayfoong Express was fourth to Dynamism and Got Fly at Sha Tin over 2,000m in Class Two, and had no excuses but he was only three quarters of a length behind Got Fly and did concede him weight.
Prior to that, Wayfoong Express was beaten just three quarters of a length in a harder grade of race over tonight's course behind Pleasure Gains. Most likely, Gibson will be looking towards a race like the Queen Mother Memorial Cup with Wayfoong Express but fresh with a month between runs tonight, the gelding looks placed to run well if he can get some luck through the run.
Prebble has a rare ride for Gibson - his last for the yard was in May last year and he is yet to win a race for the stable in six attempts - and his task is not a straightforward one from a wide draw.
Wayfoong Express generally settles midfield in his races and might find there are a few others with a similar idea, but Prebble will be hoping for some speed from regular front runners Sunny Ying and Twin Delight(Zac Purton) so he can find a slot.
Twin Delight looks an obvious danger. He will be up on the pace without mapping problems for Purton, his biggest concern being whether Sunny Ying makes him work too much. Although he ran badly in the Classic Cup at Sha Tin, he seems a better proposition at Happy Valley, where he had won in his two previous appearances over 1,200m and 1,650m.