3 minute read

Reliable Team has a perfect record to protect when he takes his place in section two of the Class 3 Wah Fu Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday (18 September) night.

Zac Purton hopes the emerging talent has enough class to overcome a number of looming obstacles, not least immaturity.

"His class has got him through before and hopefully it can again," the champion jockey said, "but last season he was in Class 4 and these Class 3 horses know what they're doing, they're a lot sharper, so he needs to be on his game first-up."

Two eye-catching wins last term marked the Frankie Lor-trained gelding as a bright prospect, but his career tally of two from two has been achieved despite obvious greenness. Not much has changed on that front, according Purton.

"He's the same horse as he was last season," the Australian said. "He didn't travel in his barrier trial at all, he wanted to hang out around the corner and run away from the other horse. He doesn't feel any stronger: he feels the same at the oment.

"I don't know that he's going to strengthen up a lot though because I think he's going to be a miler. When he gets up over more distance he's going to be comfortable in the run."

Reliable Team (125lb) has done all of his racing at Wednesday's course and distance and his natural ability has carried him through so far. Breaking from gate eight over 1200m could well put the exciting prospect under pressure from the off though.

"These 1200-metre races, they have him under the pump all the way," Purton continued. "He's never drawn a gate, he's always had to work to get a spot and it's going to be the same on Wednesday night.

"He's never been able to relax and find a rhythm. It'll be harder this time with a big weight in this grade."

Lor bagged his first win of the campaign at Sha Tin on Sunday while Purton pocketed a four-timer to lead the premiership at this early juncture.

"Hopefully it's the start of a nice roll," the latter said, "I'd rather get on one early in the season than late in the season. It's nice to get a couple of wins on the board."

Reliable Team faces 11 mostly exposed but competitive rivals in the night's penultimate contest.

No Rush with Beauty

Purton's fellow three-time Hong Kong champion, Joao Moreira, will be aiming to keep close tabs on his rival. The Brazilian ace is set to partner Beauty Rush (116lb) - an interesting import for champion trainer John Size - in the night's opening Class 2 Cheung Hong Handicap (1000m).

The four-year-old numbered victory in the G3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield among his four wins from eight starts in Australia.

"He's a very professional horse, he does things right. He's got a little bit of speed and whatever he does I'm sure he'll improve from it," Moreira said of the Hong Kong debutant.

Size, renowned for his patient methods, saddled his first winner this season at the weekend and is in no hurry with his new charge.

"His trials have been ok, he's done his track work fine, it seems like everything is normal with him and it's time to go to the races," the handler said. "I'm learning about the horse as a work in progress. We'll start racing him and he'll tell us what to do."

The Helmet gelding - raced previously as Tin Hat for Godolphin - has not competed at the minimum distance before but has stretched out to 1400m for a solid fifth in G2 company.

"They could be a bit quick for him," Size said. "He won't probably have the speed to go with the leaders, he'll follow the horses around and he'll probably finish the race off quite soundly but it'll be an eye-opener for him."

The field includes the John Moore-trained Sunny Boy (117lb), who has race fitness off a third at Sha Tin two Sunday's back, while another lightly-tried galloper, Hong Kong Bet (120lb), heads in first-up having won his last start of last season for trainer Tony Cruz. Saul's Special (133lb), on the other hand, is well-proven with three wins at the course and distance - Purton takes the ride on Michael Chang's top-weight.

The night's card starts at 7.15pm and concludes with section one of the Class 3 Wah Fu Handicap (1200m) at 10.50pm.