Promising four-year-old MIGHTY STRIDE can atone for a last-start defeat when he returns to Sha Tin in the Class 3 1200m Handicap on Sunday.
The Ricky Yiu-trained up-and-comer has displayed a ton of ability in his short three-start career, stringing together two wins on end in Class 4 – which included a debut win over rising talent SUPER SUNNY SING – before testing Class 3 waters for the first time last start. Put simply, it was a train wreck of a run. With the pace slackening mid-race, he was awkwardly placed on several occasions before being held up for clear running from upon straightening until approaching the 150m.
Once clear, he finished strongly, but it was too little too late and he had to settle for second place, beaten 1.5 lengths. Holding form with a strong trial since, MIGHTY STRIDE, with luck on his side, can get back to his winning ways.
Elsewhere, in-form five-year-old MONEY CATCHER is all set to continue his winning ways when he steps out in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap over 1800m at Sha Tin on Sunday.
MONEY CATCHER has been racing in a rich vein of form this preparation but has been honest as day is long since debuting locally in January last year. Though it took the Frankie Lor-trained gelding 13 starts to shed his local maiden tag after arriving a one-time winner and four-time place-getter from eight races in New Zealand, MONEY CATCHER never finished outside of the placings on eight occasions while never beaten far.
MONEY CATCHER has put it all together this term, winning twice from six, including two Group 3 wins which was on his last start when he claimed the Group 3 January Cup (1800m) at Happy Valley. In just a small field of six, MONEY CATCHER looks to get all the favours in the run from gate four under Silvestre De Sousa.
