Brown-lamped Berio gets the money as Derby aspirants have mixed day

Trainer David Hall was as stunned as anyone when Berio was sensationally backed into favouritism in the last race, a Class Two Handicap where a trio of expensive imports began their campaigns towards the most prestigious race.

The Sha Tin tote board lit up as Berio was slammed from as much as $150 to jump $36.50, an avalanche of money crunching the seven-year-old's odds, a single bet of HK$4.5 million arriving seconds before the kick among the deluge of support.

'It's amazing to see that sort of money bet on a horse,' Hall said. 'You know it's not from the stable, you know it's not from the owner, but you just hope they're right and hope they've picked the right one.

'He is an old horse with arthritis and he could easily be pulling up sore tomorrow and not winning, so they were brave to put the money on.'

Ben So Tik-hung did his part, surging forward with 116 pounds from his wide draw.

'He tries very hard and puts himself in good positions,' Hall said. 'But I don't think the horse has all of a sudden turned into a superstar overnight, he is what he is.'