John Moore-trained Joyful Trinity might become the best horse in Sunday’s Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1,400m) one day but the likely favourite is vulnerable and I’m In Charge could be the one to take advantage of that.
Moore was talking potential Group One company with Joyful Trinity (Joao Moreira) after his wins in Class Two in May and June this year, but he was comfortably handled after that by Helene Paragon in a Class One and returns to that grade in this afternoon’s Class One feature fresh.
A couple of his main rivals, I’m In Charge (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu) and Born In China (Douglas Whyte) have already had a race, neither of them beaten far in the Chief Executive’s Cup last weekend, while often under-rated All You Wish (Nash Rawiller) showed at the end of last season that he is still capable of producing some quality.
This is no Joyful Trinity benefit and a likely stop-start tempo could muddy the waters further for punters ready to take the short odds as the favourite generally does his racing from back in the field.
There are a number of potential leaders– Romantic Touch, Twin Delight, Horse Of Fortune, Jun Huo and Sergeant Titanium can all race forward or lead if necessary, but none of them is really committed to the role.
Caspar Fownes-trained I’m In Charge hasn’t won since he took out the Chief Executive’s Cup last year but he has run plenty of good races in this level of company and better since, and there was a lot to like about his effort behind Lucky Year first time out.
I’m In Charge was posted wide throughout the race and had every right to drop out of the finish but he was beaten just over a length by the winner which had enjoyed a perfect run.
I’m In Charge moves to an inside draw Sunday that should see him box seated this time and with the benefit of that outing under his belt.
If there’s a question with him, it may be that his best is at 1,200m, even though he won a 1,400m race early in his local career, but this looks a muddling-run race that might not prove a test of his stamina.
A very interesting runner here is Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Packing Llaregyb, who has been entrusted to 10-pound claimer Dylan Mo Hin-tung.
He moved to Yiu from Andreas Schutz towards the end of last season, then was always wide in the race where Joyful Trinity chased home Helene Paragon. Even without the claim, he is nicely placed on his best form and is another with the draw to find a nice spot.