Trainer Tony Millard's How Speedy has not drawn good gates in his four starts, but continues to knock on the door following another smart effort in the Class Four Jaffe Handicap (special condition) over 1,200m on Wednesday night.
The four-year-old got his season off with fourth, second and fourth-place finishes from his first three Sha Tin outings after hitting the line soundly from wide gates. He was given a let-up in November but had a full schedule of work for his resuming run at the Valley with two solid trials.
Once again he was given a tough task from gate 11, but How Speedy turned the jets on turning for home to finish within a length (third) of winner Master Rio - clocking the final 400m in a swift 22.42 on a track favouring rails and front runners.
Millard has combined with owner John Chan to score multiple wins with How Wonderful, and it will only be a matter of time before How Speedy poses in the winner's circle for connections.
The New Zealand-bred is a son of Darci Brahma and Kaapstad mare Khapkap.
Darci Brahma was an effective sprint/miler in the southern hemisphere with five Group One victories - four short-course efforts and a mile win in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas - and has fathered the winner Holyangelholy (two at 1,200m) from six other starters.
Khapkap was unraced but certainly knows how to dish out winners - producing five impressive foals from five other starters over 1,000m to 1,400m. The dam is also a half-sister to the Group One VATC Oakleigh Plate winner Khaptingly.
Living up to his pedigree, How Speedy will likely earn his oats over a trip of 1,200m to a mile.
