No sooner has the new season got under way in Hong Kong than two of the well-touted potential stars of it will step out at Sha Tin this Sunday.
With a record of five wins and a second from six starts at three, All You Wish returns under regular pilot Douglas Whyte in the Kwangtung Handicap Cup over 1,400m and the son of Thorn Park should take the first serious step towards becoming a top grade miler.
So far, the Dennis Yip-trained gelding has not raced beyond 1,400m but that looks his future, amongst horses like Ambitious Dragon and Glorious Days.
On Whyte’s advice, All You Wish was gently managed last season by Yip, with his races well spaced and the horse never really squeezed to his limit while he was still developing.
But the kid gloves will come off now, with the Hong Kong Mile in December as All You Wish’s aim and that means he needs to lift his 100 handicap rating by another ten to fifteen points to gain a place in the race in December.
Two races later, Zac Purton renews his association with Manfred Man’s sprinter, Bobo Dragon, tipped by many to make his way into the top grade races this season as a four-year-old.
Bobo Dragon looked smart finishing second at his first three runs, but the switch that really turned him on was the fitting of blinkers and Bobo Dragon was an easy winner in sizzling times in his next two at Sha Tin.
He was less impressive winning on rain-softened going at Happy Valley on the final night of last season but back to Sha Tin, this Class Two 1,200m under top weight is the chance for Bobo Dragon to prove his big reputation warranted.
By Nathan Mody
