The all-weather barrier trials on Wednesday offered a low key start to the public side of training horses up for the start of a new Hong Kong season, but might also have been a signal of intent from South African handler Tony Millard.
The two dirt trials gave some of the jockeys a first chance to blow out the cobwebs of the summer break, while new riders Colm O’Donoghue, Nicola Pinna and Karis Teetan got a feel of the track under something more like race conditions.
It was the first of eight trial mornings scheduled before the September 8 first meeting, and over the years the Sha Tin grass trials one week before opening day have been the most telling.
But the Millard yard sent out 9 of the 14 runners on Wednesday, the trainer has often been a player on the first day and the eye-catchers amongst his trial horses were runners-up, Masquerader and Uwillbeglorius, both with Zac Purton up.
Masquerader is a Hong Kong maiden from 17 runs but has run some excellent races despite drifting down the handicaps to the bottom of Class Two, and only coasted around in finishing a close second to his lower grade stablemate, Well Done.
Though Well Done could have been run down by the higher-rated horse had Purton wished, the runner-up is worth noting. He has won first time out for the past two seasons and his current rating of 49 is one point lower than the mark he won off in September last year.
Uwillbeglorious also has yet to win despite the 9 seconds and thirds from his 18 starts and wasn’t allowed to do much but he moved well in his distant second as he split the Class Five strugglers Dark Secret and Epee De Hua.
By Nathan Mody
