The Hong Kong International meeting done and dusted for another year, we step back into the mundane world of regulation racing at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Mostly, that is, because we do get another look at John Size-trained Contentment in the fifth race after he impressed good judges winning on his racecourse debut.
Contentment had not really set the world on fire in his trials but the tip circulated that he was highly thought of and his win, coming from last off a fairly slow tempo suggested that opinion is not misplaced and he seems to have a big future.
With his rider that day suspended, Italian jockey Mirco Demuro, Size might have turned to Joao Moreira but he too is on the sidelines for three meetings with suspension so the trainer has thrown Nash Rawiller a chance.
Suspensions and the timing of them have stopped Rawiller from getting any traction in Hong Kong since his licence period began in late September and he has only 2 wins on the board. Time is running out for him to impress the club enough to get a licence extension to the end of the season after his current contract ends on January 21, so he will be keen to make the best of his rare chances.
Size has also put Rawiller on interesting first starter High Warrior in the fourth, he has a worthwhile ride for John Moore in the ninth race on Kabayan and he has regained the ride on Pablosky for Moore.
Rawiller had ridden Pablosky when he ran fourth on the dirt two runs ago but he was suspended when the gelding ran again and Moreira did the honours when he ran out a smart winner. He hasn’t drawn as well this time but does look to have taken a liking to the all-weather surface.
By Nathan Mody
