Gorgeous has a great chance of Victory at Sha Tin
TRAINER Danny Shum has called upon his friend and ally Zac Purton to kick-start his trainers’ championship challenge again.
It was only a few weeks back that Shum was carrying all before him, with winners galore – Romantic Warrior completing the Triple Crown and leading the trainers’ title race.
That has come to a juddering halt, with just one win from the last four race-meetings, and he currently finds himself five wins behind leader Caspar Fownes, with just nine fixtures of the season remaining.
Shum has gone on record saying he still has plenty of bullets to fire before the season ends and will be hoping Purton can guide his progressive galloper GORGEOUS VICTORY to success in division two of the seven-furlong Swan Handicap (11.30am).
This lightly raced son of Lucky Vega has slowly but surely come to the boil and produced his best form to date when staying on strongly in the closing stages behind Joyful Joy over seven furlongs last month.
With the champion jockey having to ride at his minimum weight, the omens are looking good.
The partnership also team-up with Blazing Wind in the highly competitive six-furlong Snipe Handicap (1.05pm) on the all-weather surface.
The five-year-old had all the favours, when running away from the opposition over the course and distance last month, but has paid heavily for that victory with a massive 11-pound penalty.
With a wide draw in stall 10 against him, he will need another career best to overcome the opposition and on this occasion is best watched.
Purton, as per normal, has a host of winning chances from his nine rides on the card and looks capable of sending his many thousands of fans home happy when he climbs aboard AEROVOLANIC again in the finale, the seven-furlong Owl Handicap (2.15pm).
The four-year-old put up a good performance when third from the outside draw to useful Brilliant Express over the course and distance last month, and this time has been allocated a favourable gate in two.
With an impressive recent trial suggesting he is still at the top of his game, he should take plenty of beating.