Two Tye Angland rides stand out as Sha Tin bankers at the back end of a tough Triple Trio on Sunday bookended by a pair of particularly difficult all-weather track conundrums. Tony Millard's Pearl Win gets a good draw in the second leg, coming back to the bigger track after being stuck wide at Happy Valley, while in the final leg, Angland will be out to make amends on Chris So Wai-yin's improverPerfect Joy after a desperately unlucky last-start second, reports HK Racing Post.
Pearl Win showed glimpses of form for Manfred Man Ka-leung last term before being transferred to Millard, and now fourth-up and back to 1,200m at Sha Tin in the Pak Tam Au Handicap, he can break through for his first win.
First-up this season Pearl Win was an encouraging second over Sunday's trip before running on for ninth from near last behind Luger, but it was a last start seventh that was far better than it looked on paper.
Angland was forced to go back from gate 12 and not only ended up three deep, but ended up copping a buffeting from the horse racing inside him, Elephant Magic, which ensured he travelled even wider around the home bend.
Despite the tough trip, Pearl Win finished off strongly, his final 400m split of 22.77s was the fastest in the race, ahead of all-the-way winner Domineer who dominated in front with an easy lead.
From gate three in a weak race, Angland can be closer and while there doesn't look a huge amount of speed - Gorgeous Debut probably ends up leader by default - Pearl Win has the necessary finishing burst to overcome a lack of tempo.
Anytime a Class Four drops away this dramatically, the focus falls on any unraced horses or those with only a handful of starts - and therefore minimal convictions for bad efforts - and there are a trio of such candidates here that could figure. (www.racing.scmp.com)