from HK RACING POSTDennis Yip Chor-hong and jockey Zac Purton have been infrequent partners in the past, but the trainer has turned again to the Australian rider to work the oracle with Groovy in the Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (1,200m) at Happy Valley tonight. In four completed seasons, Purton had only four rides for Yip but has doubled that tally since the start of the new term and turned low-grade galloper Cheerful Double into a first-time winner earlier this month for the yard

from HK RACING POST

Dennis Yip Chor-hong and jockey Zac Purton have been infrequent partners in the past, but the trainer has turned again to the Australian rider to work the oracle with Groovy in the Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (1,200m) at Happy Valley tonight. In four completed seasons, Purton had only four rides for Yip but has doubled that tally since the start of the new term and turned low-grade galloper Cheerful Double into a first-time winner earlier this month for the yard.

Now Yip has Purton in the saddle for talented sprinter Groovy and the partnership may turn around the gelding's troublesome behaviour at the start if a recent trial is any guide. On November 12, Purton was on board when Groovy began best and led throughout to win his Happy Valley trial by a big margin.

That was in contrast with Groovy's previous bad barrier manners that have seen him a frustrating loser on a number of occasions. There is no doubting Groovy's ability to gallop, but leaving the gates badly and misbehaving has been the story behind his 12 starts for just one win.

Notably, Purton's linking with Groovy in that trial coincided with Yip's decision to dispense with the blinkers and tongue tie which have been regularly employed on the five-year-old, and the removal of blinkers in particular may have had a bit to do with that quick start in the trial.

That is the key to the race, with Groovy's major rivals, Best Eleven (Gerald Mosse) and Moneymaker (Douglas Whyte), having excellent barrier manners, and he can't afford to make the same mistake at the jump if he is to beat them.

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