After a confidence-boosting win on Sunday, apprentice Alvin Ng Ka-chun heads to Happy Valley on Wednesday night holding the key to the season's final midweek Triple Trio, reports the Racing Post in HK (www.racing.scmp.com).The TT will be bolstered by a healthy HK$4.22 million jackpot, and Ng has two standout bankers that could help capture the estimated HK$8 million dividend. In what was meant to be a breakout season for the 22-year-old, Ng has had problems staying out of trouble with a total of
After a confidence-boosting win on Sunday, apprentice Alvin Ng Ka-chun heads to Happy Valley on Wednesday night holding the key to the season's final midweek Triple Trio, reports the Racing Post in HK (www.racing.scmp.com).
The TT will be bolstered by a healthy HK$4.22 million jackpot, and Ng has two standout bankers that could help capture the estimated HK$8 million dividend. In what was meant to be a breakout season for the 22-year-old, Ng has had problems staying out of trouble with a total of 22 racedays spent on the sidelines.
He returned from an eight-meeting suspension on Sunday at Sha Tin with a polished ride on Rich Tapestry, and can carry that momentum to the city track with rides on well-drawn Surfer Boy and Smart Kids in the first and last legs for Dennis Yip Chor-hong. Surfer Boy has Ng's crucial seven-pound claim in a Class Four over 1,200m, as he did over the same course and distance last start when he was a battling half-length second to Well Done after a tough duel in the straight. Surfer Boy has drawn well in four, but Ng will have to have his wits about him aboard the on-pace runner. Ng has been mentored by Zac Purton, but the Australian will be looking to make things difficult for his new protege on another front-runner in Benefactor.
There might not be a faster horse out of the gates than Benefactor, who has drawn inside Surfer Boy, and even though Purton could probably find the rails, he might prefer to keep Ng posted deep. Benefactor drops in grade and has claims, but he will need to find some peace in front. The apprentice will also have to deal with another street-smart hoop drawn below him on a leader type, Brett Prebble on Novel Start, jumping from one with the Gary Ng Tik-keung-trained four-year-old chasing three wins from four starts.
Prebble doesn't give an inch and will make it hard for whoever wants to cross him for the front and, from the box seat, Novel Start maps to get the right run. Both his victories came when getting his own way in front.
The three speedy types vying for position up front could create some pressure, and there are a couple of handy-looking backmarkers who look ready to capitalise should things get silly on the speed. After a recent drop in grade, Make It (Derek Leung Ka-chun) has a dangerous look about him, while Heco Rider (Tye Angland) has shown something at the trials and ran on over the course and distance last time out.