With a fitness edge due to a four-day back-up and dropping down to a nice draw, Potential can catch his Class Five rivals on the hop in the opening leg of a massive Happy Valley Triple Trio tomorrow night. A HK$22 million jackpot sits waiting in the pool, creating an estimated HK$30 million dividend, and the Caspar Fownes-trained six-year-old, with apprentice Vincent Ho Chak-yiu aboard and taking five pounds off the back of the top weight, can get the cash over the extended mile. Potential was a

With a fitness edge due to a four-day back-up and dropping down to a nice draw, Potential can catch his Class Five rivals on the hop in the opening leg of a massive Happy Valley Triple Trio tomorrow night.

A HK$22 million jackpot sits waiting in the pool, creating an estimated HK$30 million dividend, and the Caspar Fownes-trained six-year-old, with apprentice Vincent Ho Chak-yiu aboard and taking five pounds off the back of the top weight, can get the cash over the extended mile.

Potential was a horse crying out for a drop in grade at the end of last term, but by the time he got there he was a tired horse and copped a couple of unsuitable draws at his less-preferred venue of Sha Tin. A career record of one from 27 is nothing to boast about, but at least that solitary victory did come over the course and distance against better opposition, in Class Four in November last year.

The key here is Potential's recent workload, which should have him fit and primed over a distance where being in game shape will count against low-quality horses coming off a break.

Fownes gave Potential two weeks off during the off-season, but it has been the last two weeks - where he has given the gelding a proper tune-up - that will make the difference; firstly a searching 1,200m all-weather track trial on August 31 and then a perfect lead-up run on opening day. Ho went back to last from gate 11 on Saturday, Potential travelling on the bridle throughout, and he was pulled widest after the turn and allowed to wind up down the long straight, making up good ground to finish seventh.

From gate four this time, he maps to get a much better run. All The Winners has drawn 10, and can go forward and Supreme Tycoon, after a stable change and with Brett Prebble aboard, can create the running too - include them both in case one or either lays up on a soft pace.

Others to consider are Sabina (Richard Fourie) and King Of Fish II (Alex Lai Hoi-wing).

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