Ricky Yiu confident Mighty Giant has the edge over Sky Field in ‘two-horse race’
22/10/2020
South China Morning Post
Ricky Yiu has labelled Saturday’s Class Two Argyle Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin a two-horse race and is hopeful his winning machine Mighty Giant (高大威猛) will have the edge over Caspar Fownes’ young star Sky Field (顯心星).
Two of Hong Kong’s most exciting up-and-coming gallopers meet for the first time, with Mighty Giant (高大威猛) shooting for a fifth straight win and Sky Field (顯心星) looking to ring up four on the trot.
Mighty Giant (高大威猛) won first-up for the season on National Day and Yiu said he’s bounced through the run and is ready to continue his climb up the ratings.
“He’s really well, he takes his races so easily,” Yiu said. “He’s a lovely horse to train, he’s never put one step wrong.”
While Mighty Giant (高大威猛) proved his mettle in Class Two three weeks ago – and has won five times over seven furlongs – Sky Field (顯心星) tackles both for the first time on the weekend and Yiu thinks that could prove telling.
“He’s stepping up in class and stepping up in distance, it’s a big task for him,” Yiu said. “But it’s a two-horse race.”
Zac Purton has been front and centre for the entirety of Mighty Giant’s (高大威猛) winning streak and is again in the saddle on Saturday, with the chestnut set to lug the top weight of 129 pounds from gate 10.
“For Zac [129 pounds] is nothing and he knows him so well,” Yiu said.
Mighty Giant’s (高大威猛) rating will reach 100 should he salute again on the weekend and Yiu knows his electric five-year-old will be right at home in open company when the time comes, declaring him “100 per cent ready for Group racing”.
Joao Moreira takes Sky Field’s (顯心星) reins and will have barrier two at his disposal in a 14-horse field that also features smart John Size-trained youngster Lucky Express (幸運快車) and Jimmy Ting Koon-ho’s consistent galloper Ballistic King (極速王).
Yiu also saddles up Super Mission (極速奔馳) at Sha Tin, with the veteran trainer hopeful the four-year-old can take the next step this season after two placings from four starts in his debut campaign.
The gelding lines up in the Class Four Nelson Handicap (1,200m) and Vagner Borges takes the ride from gate four.
“He’s one of my up and comers, he’s got a very nice temperament and a good turn of foot,” Yiu said. “A Private Purchase Griffin in Class Four, he should be able to do something.”
Super Mission (極速奔馳) has produced two solid trials at Happy Valley in the build-up to his seasonal debut and Yiu believes a patient approach has helped the galloper come on since his last race start in July.
“He’s a pretty nice horse and he was only three last season. He’s by Super Easy and they can take a bit of time from that particular sire,” Yiu said.
Super Mission (極速奔馳) meets another progressive four-year-old in Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Everyone’s Delight (大眾開心), who saluted on debut earlier this month and gets another go in the grade.
Yiu’s other runners on Saturday afternoon are Apolar Warrior (無極戰士), Precise Express (精準快車) and Loriz (同盟力量).
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