John Size-trained Magpies Bridge made a nice first impression at yesterday's turf trials at Sha Tin as the highly rated French import started slowly but built up steam throughout his 800m heat.
Bred by the Aga Khan and a winner of three from seven, including an impressive Group Three triumph last September at Longchamp, Magpies Bridge brings with him a lofty rating of 93 and also high expectations.
It is clear Size won't be rushing the four-year-old - the son of Shamardal actually holds a Hong Kong Derby entry, but the sprinter-miler clearly won't be going to the races until ready to compete with what will be some tough and seasoned opposition in Class Two at the shorter trips.
With Size's latest go-to man Brett Prebble in the saddle for the gelding's first trial, Magpies Bridge was allowed to step away at his own leisure, without being too slow, and find his feet. He settled at the tail early and eventually finished just three-quarters of a length away from another import having his first trial, John Moore-trained three-year-old Bad Boy (Joao Moreira).
The pair crossed the line in what was the fastest of two 800m heats and Magpies Bridge gave the impression he could have easily gone a length or two quicker if given the chance.
A horse that will be pushing on to the Derby but needs to find plenty is Richard Gibson's problem child Consort, who did look sharper and more focused with the application of blinkers in the first trial of the morning.
Gibson inherited the Pan Sutong-owned grey by way of a stable transfer from John Moore before the Hong Kong Classic Cup, in which the trainer tried sheepskin cheekpieces in an effort to get the colt's mind on the job. That gear change didn't really work and perhaps castration is eventually on the agenda, but there's no time for that now and blinkers might just be a case of making the best of a bad situation in order to extract a more genuine display.
Chad Schofield was aboard for the trial in which the Group One placegetter was still niggled at, but kept pace with a couple of much speedier types in Simply Invincible (Moreira) and Charity Glory (Keith Yeung Ming-lun).
Schofield was on another later in the morning that looks like improving next start, with Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Lucky Guy doing a nice job to win his 1,000m trial.
Blinkers had the right effect on Me Tsui Yu-sak's unraced three-year-old Look Eras (Howard Cheng Yue-tin), an Irish-bred purchase who has made good progress through his three trials.
Effortlessly finishing just behind Look Eras was David hall-trained Mr Picasso (Zac Purton), who ensured he will start close to favourite wherever he is entered next with another strong display. Mr Picasso, a Hong Kong international sale graduate, had already put the writing on the wall on debut in late January when second to Who Else But You and this time trialled in a hood, which the three-year-old is likely to be sporting at the races next time out.
